Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 18-25. More than 4,700 drop-off locations will open across the country, including one at Maranatha Evangelical Free Church at 3340 S.
Main St., Rice Lake. Shoeboxes for the public to fill and drop off are now available at King's Way Bible and Gift and Hobby Lobby in Rice Lake.
Other shoebox-sized boxes also may be used. Families, individuals and groups wishing to pack a shoebox can find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox at samaritanspurse.org .
Other drop-off locations can be found at the same website under Shoebox Drop Off Locations. Drop-off dates and hours at the Rice Lake location are: Monday, Nov. 18, 5-7 p.
m.; Tuesday, Nov. 19, 5-7 p.
m.; Wednesday, Nov. 20, 3-5 p.
m.; Thursday, Nov. 21, 3-5 p.
m.; Friday, Nov. 22, 3-5 p.
m.; Saturday, Nov. 23, 9-11 a.
m.; Sunday, Nov. 24, 9 a.
m.–noon; and Monday, Nov. 25, 9-11 a.
m. Rice Lake is within the Northwest Wisconsin Area of Operation Christmas Child, which includes the areas north of Highway 8 in Polk, Barron and Rusk counties along with all of Burnett, Washburn and Sawyer counties. Last month volunteers throughout the area met in Spooner to connect and to learn about packing shoeboxes for distribution around the globe.
Another highlight of the September workshop was hearing about area coordinator Wyman Johnson’s trip to Ecuador, where he had the opportunity to participate in three outreach events. J.