CHANDLER, AZ – Chandler residents now have the opportunity to help children in need through shoeboxes.
The southwest division office of the Life Care Centers of America located at 2727 W. Frye Road, is currently hosting a November donation drive as a part of the 2009 Operation Christmas Child campaign.
The goal of the campaign is to distribute Christmas gifts to children in countries greatly affected by war and poverty, according to a Tuesday press release.
Local residents are encouraged to fill a shoebox with gifts for either a boy or girl such as candy, school supplies, toothbrushes, soap, and small toys, along with a $7 dollar donation for shipping costs. The boxes are then shipped and distributed among children in need in several different countries.
"Operation Christmas Child is a great opportunity to get together in fellowship and share with others," said LaRue Lahvic, executive secretary of Samaritan’s Purse, the organizer of the drive. "This may be the first gift any of these children have ever received."
Donators can drop off their filled shoeboxes at the Chandler Life Care Center location between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday up until the last donation day on November 16th.
The Chandler office hopes to collect about 600 boxes by the end of the donation period.
Residents can also drop off their donation shoeboxes at the Desert Cove Nursing Center located at 1750 W. Frye Road in Chandler. Two Mesa locations that will also be available drop-off points are the Citadel Care Center located at 5121 E. Broadway Road and the Mi Casa Nursing Center located at 330 S. Pinnule Cir.
For more information about Operation Christmas Child and info on how to fill a shoebox, visit the Samaritan’s Purse
website.
