St. John’s church is shoebox center

St. John’s Lutheran Church serves as a Relay Center for the Shoebox Project. In this project, regular shoeboxes are packed with personal hygiene items, school supplies, miscellaneous small toys, hard candy and other items. They are then sent worldwide to millions of children in more than 95 countries affected by war, poverty, disease and disaster. These shoeboxes open doors for presenting the news of Jesus Christ through children’s literature and evangelistic programs.

St. John’s is inviting and encouraging its members and other churches, clubs and organizations in James-town and the surrounding area to participate. Last year 1,002 shoeboxes from this area were delivered to the collection site in Bismarck. Around 7,000 North Dakotans participated in this project in 2007 and packed a record 14,505 boxes. North Dakota’s 2008 boxes will most likely be sent to children who are orphaned and those in need in Ukraine, Abkhazia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, China, Albania, Estonia, Latvia and Mongolia.

St. John’s Lutheran Church is located at 424 First Ave. S., Jamestown. People may bring their packed shoeboxes to St. John’s during National Collection Week Nov. 17-23. Special shoeboxes and brochures are available at the church or people may call Marjorie Patzer at 252-9331. Information and additional group and church materials are available from Operation Christmas Child, Lake Calhoun Ex. Center, Suite 410, 3033 Excelsior Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55416, or from it’s Web site www.samaritanspurse.org, or by calling toll free 1-800-353-5949.

Tags: stjohns, shoebox, relaycenter