By Rebecca Fowler
Staff Writer

The Hope for Africa Club at CHS is finishing up its next project, packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.

This organization sends shoeboxes filled with toys, candy, toiletries and school supplies to needy children throughout the world.  For children who receive no other Christmas presents, these gifts are extremely special to them.

Though the shoeboxes are extravagant to their recipients, they are very reasonable for those who put them together.  Filling a shoebox costs roughly twenty dollars, depending on how many items are included, in addition to a seven dollar donation which is highly encouraged to help cover shipping costs.  It is easy to put together, requiring only a shoebox or plastic container of the same size, gifts to go inside, a note to the child who receives your box (optional), a seven dollar donation and a label taped on the top.  This label helps specify who the gift is for (boy or girl; age 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14).

Completed boxes are due to the Hope for Africa club by Wed, Nov. 4 or can be dropped off at any of the local drop-off locations during the week of Nov. 16-23.  If you are unable to meet the November deadline, completed shoeboxes may be sent year-round to Samaritan’s Purse headquarters at

Operation Christmas Child
Samaritan’s Purse
P.O. Box 3000
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

A form with complete instructions as well as boy and girl labels can be found here.

For more info concerning Operation Christmas Child, please visit Samaritan’s Purse’s website at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php.