KNEO 91.7 will be collecting shoeboxes filled with toys and goodies for Operation Christmas Child from Nov. 16 through Nov. 22. It’s the 10th year they’ve helped in the effort.
“We are the relay center for both Newton County and McDonald County,” said Roberta Foster, KNEO coordinator for Operation Christmas Child.
The boxes are distributed throughout the year, but the collection is always in November to tie into the holiday season.
Final destinations for this year’s packages include Malawi, the Congo and Niger on the African continent along with Honduras and the Dominican Republic in South America. Other, less-heard of nations are on the list as well. Boxes will head to Mauritius, an island nation off the coast of Madagascar; Macedonia, which borders Greece; and, on the edge of the Black Sea, the Republic of Abkhazia torn between a Russia/Georgia conflict.
“It’s a great way for children to learn the gift of giving,” Foster said. “So along with picking out things themselves that they might like to have for Christmastime parents can use this as an opportunity to teach their children about giving to others.”
The ministry asks that people wrap a shoebox, fill it with toys, school supplies, hard candy and hygiene items, label it for the proper age group and enclose $7 for delivery costs.
Things that would break or melt, like chocolate, are off the list as are any war or military items since the shoeboxes are often delivered to children who have experienced war firsthand.
KNEO has set a goal of 1,200 boxes from the area this year. Last year they shipped 1,149.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham.
Neosho, Mo. —
