Collections sought for Operation Christmas Child

A local church is again seeking donations to benefit children affected by natural disasters or wars throughout the world.

Operation Christmas Child, headed internationally by Samaritan’s Purse and organized locally by the Sidney Evangelical Free Church, sends shoeboxes with small gifts to children in need.

Cheryl MacKenzie, who is leading the Sidney-based efforts, said the program has been in operation since 1993. It helps to distribute shoe boxes to children in war torn counties or where there’s been devastation.

“Millions of shoeboxes have been packed and sent,” she said. “And they’re hoping for over a million to be given out to children this year alone.”

Anyone can participate, she said, by filling a shoebox with a toy and non-liquid hygiene supplies. Toys could include a doll, deflated soccer ball with a pump, a yo-yo, slinky or marbles.

The packed boxes can be dropped off all week at the Evangelical Free Church, where they will then be transported to a distribution packing center in Denver before being sent to their final destinations.

This year, plans are for donations from this region to be sent to Mexico, MacKenzie said.

Along with the shoebox filled with goodies, contributors are also asked to make a monetary donation of $7, which covers the cost of shipping.

Samaritan’s Purse asks that participants tailor their shoeboxes for either a boy or girl, and from among three age categories: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14.

A group of volunteers from Cheyenne County are also planning to travel to Denver on Dec. 12 to deliver the shoeboxes.

For more information about the program, or to reserve a spot for the trip to Denver, contact MacKenzie at (308) 254-3890.

Donations will be accepted during various hours at the Sidney Evangelical Free Church located at 2763 11th Ave.

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to noon

Wednesday: 5-8 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to noon

Friday: 10 a.m. to noon

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to noon

Sunday: noon to 2 p.m.

Monday: 8-10 a.m.