While Christmas is still a few months off for Canadian residents, preparations are underway for collecting and distributing gift shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child for children in Third World countries.

Bev Alexander is the Weyburn coordinator for the local collection campaign once more, after taking her third trip as part of a distribution team for the boxes this last year. The local deadline for collecting the boxes is Saturday, Nov. 13 to the Weyburn depot's two locations, at either the Weyburn Free Methodist Church or at Mr. D. Submarine and Pizza.

This time she went to Nicaragua, and distributed some locally-packed shoebox gifts, including from Sheryl Ehman's class at St. Dominic Savio School. This box, including a class photo, was given to a girl named Ashley Downs of Marshall Point. Another box, from a Grade 6 class at St. Olivier School in Radville, was given to a hospitalized girl named Gloria in Bluefields, Nicaragua.

Bev and the team visited many remote villages, some accessible only by ponga boats. This included a remote small island along the Mosquito Coast where boxes were delivered to a family of girls. The family only had a hand-carved paddle canoe in which to transport the children to school each day.

The gift can be a cardboard shoebox or a similar-sized plastic container with lid, filled with items intended either for a boy or girl of a select age category. Items can include school supplies like pens, pencils, crayons, pencil sharpener or ruler; personal hygiene items like toothpaste and toothbrush, soap, wash cloth, brush, comb and barrettes; and general items like candy, gum, small toys like cars, dolls, stuffed animals, balls or marbles, T-shirts, caps, sandals or runners.

Items that cannot be sent include chocolate, breakable items, liquids, war-related items and bulk unwrapped candy. Donors should include $5 to help cover the cost of shipping, and if desired, include name and address and a photo.

For more information or supplies, contact Bev (Norm) Alexander.