Operation Christmas Child seeks assistance

Two north county locations will serve as collection points for Operation Christmas Child, an international relief project.

Residents are being asked to help pack shoe boxes with toys, school supplies and other items, and drop those boxes at either Atonement Free Lutheran Church in Arlington or Amen Christian Bookstore in Marysville.

“Over the past 16 years we’ve had an opportunity to hand out gifts to hurting children,” said local organizer Bonnie Buse. “When these boxes are distributed, the children get a small gospel in their own language and it spreads the good news at Christmas time. It’s a joy to see the excitement.”

Shoe boxes are collected locally and shipped to more than 100 countries across the world.

The collection allows donors to track their shoe box using the Web site www.samaritanspurse.org. That Web site also gives more specific information on what types of items should be in each shoe box.

Last year organizers collected 765 shoe boxes in Arlington and 377 in Marysville, and are hoping to improve those number this year, Buse said.

Residents are encouraged to drop off shoe boxes at Atonement Lutheran Christian Church (6905 172nd St., Arlington) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 16-21, noon to 2 p.m. on Nov. 22 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Amen Christian Bookstore (318 State Ave., Marysville) will be accepting donations at that same time.

Buse said organizers are also asking for a $7 donation to cover shipping and project costs.

For more information, call Buse at 360-435-6138.