Chelsea, Dexter Churches Partner with Samaritan's Purse for 'Operation Christmas Child' Fundraiser

The holidays are fast approaching, and parishioners at Dexter United Methodist Church (DUMC) and Chelsea Free Methodist Church are hard at work preparing Christmas gifts for children worldwide.

Both church congregations are holding Operation Christmas Child donation drives in conjunction with Samaritan's Purse International, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that collects shoeboxes full of necessities to send to children in war-torn countries.

Dexter resident Tracie Sikora, a member of DUMC, has been involved with Operation Christmas Child for more than six years and is a passionate advocate of the program. Thanks to Sikora’s efforts, DUMC is now an official Operation Christmas Child drop-off location.

“Operation Christmas Child is an easy way for people to help desperately poor children all around the world,” Sikora said. “Millions of these kids have never had a Christmas, let alone a gift."

Residents interested in helping can simply fill a shoebox with new, nonperishable items such as school supplies, hygiene items, small toys, clothing, books and flashlights. Items to avoid include toy guns, chocolate, glass, liquid and seeds.

Once the shoebox is filled, visit the Samaritan’s Purse website to print instructions and labels for the box. There is an optional $7 donation requested for each box. Payment can be left inside the box or online by clicking on the "follow your box" option.

Diane Cutsinger of Chelsea Free Methodist Church said volunteers who pay the $7 online will receive an email notifying them when their package is delivered.

"They won't know who received it, but they can see what country it was mailed to," Cutsinger said.

Shoeboxes may be dropped off at the church in Dexter from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 14; 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 15; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 16; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 17; and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 18.

In Chelsea, shoeboxes can be dropped off at the Washington Street Education Center from 8:30 to noon on Nov. 18.

According to Sikora, the Dexter congregation collected 1,252 boxes last year. This year, her goal is to collect 1,500 boxes.

“Anyone can participate," she said. "It's especially good for children. There are not a lot of charities that allow kids to have a hands-on experience from start to finish. I think children really get into this operation because they know their gift will bring someone else happiness on Christmas."

For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org or call 734-424-9890.