Shoebox Ministry

We are joining others in the community and across the world by gathering toys, clothes, and toiletries and assembling them into 251 shoeboxes as part of a national effort called “Operation Christmas Child”, which is led by Samaritan’s Purse.

This year, it took 17 volunteers about two and a half hours to pack the boxes, but it takes efforts by the congregation the whole year to gather the materials for the boxes. Inside each box is a blanket, pens, pencils, notepads, spiral notebooks, a T-shirt or dress, and a toy of some kind. Boxes are packed with different items depending on the recipient’s gender and age. Younger kids get crayons or markers with a spiral notebook, while older kids get pens and pencils with a notepad or spiral notebook.

We hold two yard sales each year to fund the purchase of the items for the shoeboxes. Once the boxes are packed they are taken to Mountain View Baptist in Centralia where churches and individuals bring their packed boxes to be picked up by Samaritan’s Purse and taken to a distributing center. From there, they are sent to areas that are impoverished or that have been recently impacted by a natural disaster. So the shoeboxes from our church could very well end up in places such as Africa, Puerto Rico or Houston.

This ministry is part of the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief Effort.

Franklin Graham – President; Samaritanspurse.org

Sonshine Seekers

The Sonshine Seekers special needs adult ministry meets from 5 to 7:00pm on the first Monday of the month for a potluck and project at First Christian Church, Chehalis 111 N.W. Prindle St.  All are welcome to attend.