By Derek Cornet

Residents encouraged to fill shoeboxes for children from developing countries

Nov 13, 2018 | 4:00 PM

Operation Christmas Child is in full force across Canada this week and tri-community residents are encouraged to share the holiday spirit by filling a shoebox for children in need.

The endeavour is coordinated by Samaritan’s Purse Canada and local organizer Glenys Plunz, who said every year area residents donate close to 100 shoeboxes filled with various supplies. She noted the La Ronge Lutheran Church has acted as a drop-off point of for the donations for more than 20 years, adding the shoeboxes are sent to developing countries in Africa or Central and South America.

“I’m not sure where this year’s [boxes] will go and it will take them many months to be processed and shipped overseas,” Plunz said. “We get contributions from the various churches, some of the school classes and from individuals.”

With the Lutheran Church being one of nearly 400 collection points across the country, shoeboxes donated in La Ronge will first be sent to Prince Albert, before being shipped to Calgary for processing. Plunz said anyone interested in participating in the operation can pick up a box and more information from Your Dollar Store With More in Air Ronge or speak to their church pastor. It’s important for the shoeboxes to also be sent with a $10 donation, which Plunz said is used to pay for shipping costs.

While a precise list of items can be found at those locations, Plunz recommended school supplies, bars of soap, towels and small toys as good donations. She mentioned boxes can be filled for either boys or girls specifically, as well as certain age groups. Some items which can’t be donated include any liquids such as shampoo or war-related products like toy guns.

Weekend hockey

PAGC set to host largest Senator's Cup tournament to date

8h ago

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

11h ago

health care

RBC Foundation gifts $7,500 to assist in training La Ronge nurses

Apr 24, 2024

“When they are collected at the Lutheran Church, which is merely just a collection centre, my friends and I will box them up Sunday afternoon,” Plunz said.

The deadline to donate a shoebox is Nov. 18 at 12:30 p.m.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno