By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Shoeboxes also can filled online by visiting Samaritan’s Purse.org and finding Operation Christmas Child Build a Box. According to Shelly Emerick, by filling a shoebox online, people are able to choose items they want included in their shoebox…”You can even include a personal note and download a picture that will be printed and placed in your shoebox. Cost is $25 and you are able to follow your shoebox to its destination.”

Teresa Johnson, left, Operation Christmas Child coordinator at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church in Geneseo; and Shelly Emerick, representing Operation Christmas Child in Geneseo, show the empty shoeboxes that still need to be filled, and some that have been filled. Empty shoeboxes are available to be picked up at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church, 914 North Chicago St., Geneseo. Photo by Claudia Loucks

The Packing Party dates are set and the shoebox drop-off dates are in place, but there are still many empty shoeboxes to be filled for the Operation Christmas Child outreach.

Team members are aware that the Christmas season is drawing closer and there is a concern of making sure the OCC shoeboxes get to disadvantaged children worldwide.

A display of empty shoeboxes has been set up in the gathering area at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church where people can pick them up and return them when they are filled. The church will be open from 8 to 4 on weekdays, with the exception of being closed from 12 to 1 p.m. Shoeboxes also may be picked up during Sunday church services at GEFC.

Packing a shoebox can be done by anyone and the first step is to decide to pack for a boy or a girl in age groups 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. It’s best to begin with a “wow” item such as a doll, stuffed animal, deflated soccer ball with a pump, toy cars or trucks. It is important to include school supplies and hygiene items such as a washcloth and soap, toothbrush, but toothpaste is not allowed.

Clothing or shoes also can be included in the shoebox as well as fun toys, but no food, candy, liquids or jells.

Each shoebox contains a copy of “The Greatest Gift” booklet, a storybook that shares the message of salvation, written in the language of the child receiving the shoebox.

Items that cannot be included in the shoeboxes are anything glass, liquid, camouflage or war-related, or any type of food.