Christmas shoe boxes available now at Safeway

Some children, particularly those living in countries ravaged by war, famine, extreme poverty, or natural disaster, might never receive a Christmas gift.
But with “Operation Christmas Child,” a project of Samaritan’s Purse, churches, groups, families, and people of all ages can touch the lives of boys and girls in other countries—giving them a sense of hope and joy.
It is an international project and people within Rainy River District are encouraged to participate by filling a shoe box with gifts which will be given to children in need.
These shoe boxes are available to be picked up at Safeway and must be returned there between Nov. 5-10.
“At Christmas we’re sometimes overindulgent with our own families and to give $10 or $20 worth of supplies to somebody [so] it can change their life, it can make quite an impact,” noted Barb Dawyduk of Fort Frances, who is helping to organize the project locally for the first time.
She said anyone can pick up a shoe box and fill it with any of the items listed on the brochure inside.
“They should mark the age and whether the gift is for a boy or girl,” Dawyduk noted. “Then they just take it back to Safeway and it’s done.”
The shoe box gift can be for either a girl or boy in the following age categories: two-four, five-nine, or 10-14.
Some of the gifts that can be included are school supplies, such as pens, pencils, crayons, writing pads, and colouring books, and toys, such as small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, and skipping ropes.
Hygiene items like a toothbrush, mild bar soap, comb, and washcloth also are suggested. Other items such as hard candies, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewellery, and watches can be included, as well.
However, there are some gifts that should not be put into the shoe boxes due to customs and shipping regulations.
These include toothpaste, liquids or items that could leak, melt, or freeze, food, used items, breakable items, and items that could scare or harm a child.
Those preparing the shoe box gifts also are invited to enclose, in a separate envelope, a note to the child and a photo of themselves or their family.
Dawyduk noted a donation of $7 or more for each shoe box is required to help cover project costs, like shipping, and expand assistance to children and their communities.
And although it’s a Christmas-related project, she explained for those who receive the shoe box, it’s not necessarily about the holiday season.
“People around the world don’t celebrate Christmas at the same time, so whenever a mission is going on, that’s when they can give the shoe boxes to the children,” she explained.
“For them, it’s the difference between having a toy, a doll, a stuffed animal, or school supplies that they never would have had. That’s the advantage,” she stressed.
Dawyduk is encouraging any groups, families, or individuals who would like to fill a shoe box as a gift to stop by Safeway and pick one up.
They then should be returned to Safeway, where they will be sent to one of the processing centres and, from there, be distributed to children in other countries.