Christmas is arriving early in International Falls, as a local radio station prepares to serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child.

Soon, with the help of International Falls volunteers, the office of Psalm 99:5 Radio Station will be brimming with festively wrapped shoe boxes full of gifts.

In 2008, the International Falls area contributed 508 shoe box gifts to the Operation Christmas Child effort. This year, organizers hope to collect 800 gift-filled shoe boxes from families, kids, churches, schools and civic organizations in the area.

Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, International Falls residents are packing shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty. From International Falls, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary — sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, even dog sleds — to reach suffering children around the world.

“More than ever before, people need hope. This is a tangible way that we, through our listeners, local churches and many others can bring gifts to millions,” said Kimberly Dawn, Operation Christmas Child drop-off site coordinator. “Let’s get proactive with this endeavor and overwhelm our collection site with hundreds of shoe box gifts.”

Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has delivered more than 69 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.

How to get involved:

• PREPARE — Enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide.

• PACK — Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

• PROCESS — Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at the collection site in International Falls as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (612) 359-7025 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.

National Collection Week is Nov. 16-23.

Psalm 99:5 Radio Station
4090 Highway 11
International Falls, MN 56649
(800) 498-8593

Mon. Nov. 16 – Fri. Nov. 20: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 21: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 22: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Mon. Nov. 23: 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.