It’s that time of year again! The annual Operation Christmas Child drive for shoeboxes has begun in southwest North Dakota.
The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoeboxes – filled with school supplies, hygiene items, fun toy and notes of encouragement – and delivers them to children in need around the world. For most of these children, it will be the only gift that they will receive. St. John Lutheran Church in Dickinson will be a shoebox drop-off site for this region. The address of the church is: 146 6th Ave. West. Preprinted colorful Christmas shoeboxes and brochures with information on how to pack a shoebox may also be picked up at the church. Gift ideas for the boxes include: small toys such as cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals; school supplies such as crayons, markers, pens and pencils; hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, washcloths; and other miscellaneous items such as hard candy, gum, socks, etc. Please use only new items.
The national collection week will be Sunday, November 13 – Sunday, November 20, and from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 21. Office hours at the church are: Monday – Friday: 9am – noon and 1pm – 4pm. We welcome filled shoeboxes from businesses, civic groups, community clubs, churches, families, schools and other organizations. SW North Dakota packed over 1,800 shoeboxes last year and we are hoping to pack many shoeboxes again this year! Monetary donations are also accepted to assist with the shipping costs.
Checks can be mailed to the church and should be made out to Samaritan’s Purse. Please put Operation Christmas Child on the memo line. For more information, contact Jodeen Myers at either 225-6747 or at 290-3406 or call toll free 1-800-353-5949 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.