Operation Christmas Child, even in a pandemic, is still going strong. We will be collecting shoeboxes Nov. 16 – 23, at The Caring Place, 481 West E St.

This year, if you would like to pick up an empty shoebox to fill, there will be extras available at The First Baptist Church on Wednesday evenings between 5 – 6 p.m. starting Oct. 7. You can find out more information from your church’s project leader, online at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/, or by calling 360-374-9770.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 168 million children in more than 100 countries. Operation Christmas Child shares shoeboxes full of gifts, toys, school, and hygiene supplies with children in third-world countries. Millions of shoeboxes are shared each year with those who may never have received a gift or heard about the wonder and meaning of Christmas.

During the COVID pandemic, Samaritan’s Purse is working hard to keep givers and receivers of shoeboxes safe. Modifications are being made in how we will operate our collection center, and country workers in each of the receiving countries are working on ways to distribute the boxes without putting the children at risk. The headquarters of Samaritan’s Purse feel so strongly that this year of turmoil and global pandemic, children will need the encouragement and love demonstrated by these simple shoeboxes, so they are dedicated to figuring out how to continue this project safely.

You can drop off your filled shoebox at your church, or at The Caring Place during Collection Week. The Baptist Church has also offered to receive your boxes, again, on Wednesday evenings between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

After the Drop Off Center closes on Nov. 23, we will take the boxes to the Collection Center in Poulsbo where they will be transported by semi to the processing center – where they are sorted into cartons for distribution and head out by airplane to the receiving countries. From there, they are transported by truck, train, bus, car, donkey, camel, dugout canoe, or even on top of somebody’s head to the villages where local church members distribute them. An exciting Christmas gift from us to others!

Deborah Dillon