Moses Lake church collects Christmas items

MOSES LAKE - It's time to grab empty shoeboxes and put them to good use.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, is preparing to collect shoe boxes full of school supplies, toys, hygiene items and notes of encouragement for children in more than 100 countries.

Moses Lake resident Janet Saito and her husband have participated in the event since Lake City Foursquare Church first became a collection site, said Saito.

The church first approached Samaritan's Purse about becoming a collection site because there wasn't a site nearby, said Saito

"It's almost like applying for this job," she said. "They do their research to make sure we're OK, because it's a trusted position and you're entrusted with gifts from people to someone else."

In 2009, the church collected 1,504 boxes. In 2010, they collected 1,665 boxes.

"We would like to at least meet what we did last year and I would like to see it exceeded," said Saito.

People are asked to help pay for transportation costs by putting money inside their shoeboxes, she said. People can also donate online and track their package as it travels across the world, she said.

"It's always fun to do this," she said. "This is probably one of the most fun things we do for Christmas, just because it's giving away and I just love the excitement of putting something together for a special little kid."

Lake City Foursquare Church is located at 333 N Central Drive in Moses Lake.

The church will collect shoeboxes Nov. 14-17. Collection hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m.; Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.