Columbus Relay Center sets 5k box goal

Area families wishing to help out the less fortunate this holiday season have their opportunity this week.

Collection week began Monday, Nov. 14 for Operation Christmas Child, with the Columbus Relay Center ready to receive shoeboxes for needy children around the world.

The area Samaritan’s Purse collection center is located at the Polk Baptist Association at 208 Blanton Street in Columbus.

Shoeboxes are being collected every day, ending on Monday, Nov. 21.

The Columbus Relay Center collects shoeboxes from area churches and individuals as part of Samaritan’s Purse. The Columbus Relay Center is a collection center that takes gift shoeboxes to the Hendersonville Collection center, which will then go to Charlotte and eventually be distributed to children in over 100 countries.

The Columbus Center’s goal this year is to collect 5,000 shoeboxes. Big Level Baptist Church has already contributed 2,559 as of yesterday morning to help meet that goal.

Columbus Relay Center co-coordinators Judy Loudermelt and Patsy Williams said this year is Big Level Baptist Church’s 11^th year participating in Operation Christmas Child. This is the Columbus Relay Center’s third year.

The Columbus Relay Center collects shoeboxes from churches in the Polk County and Landrum as well as individuals and businesses.

A shoebox can contain school supplies, toys, hygiene items, candy and miscellaneous items such as t-shirts, hats, sunglasses and toy jewelry.

Each shoebox should choose either for a boy or girl and age range. Age categories include 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years old.

The shoebox should be standard size or use a small plastic container with a lid and once packed, place a rubber band around each box and drop it off at the collection center.

Anyone donating a shoebox is asked to donate $7 or more for shipping and handling charges.

The Columbus Relay Center has many volunteers with the trailer to deliver boxes received from James and Patricia Shehan with Shehan Grading.

The Columbus Relay Center will be open today, Tuesday, Nov. 15 and Thursday, Nov. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16 and Friday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 19 and Monday, Nov. 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

For more information and to print out labels visit www.samaritanspurse.org. The Columbus Relay Center also has extra labels.

Shoebox gift suggestions:

School supplies: pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, markers, stamps, ink pad sets, writing pads, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky,® etc.

Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, tec.

Other: hard candy and lollipops, mints, gum (please place all candy in Ziploc bag), T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries).

Note: you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family (if you include your name and address the child may write back).

Do not include: used or damaged items, war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures, chocolate or food, out-of-date candy, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers or aerosol cans.