ROCKINGHAM — Place of Grace Campus will be filling the community with the love of Christ this Christmas as shoe boxes full of goodies will be distributed to local children.
Organizers say it is a great opportunity for individuals as well as groups to come together and use this as a Christmas outreach project.
Place of Grace asks that donors label each box “boy” or “girl” as well as age category — 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14 — before delivering. Organizers also ask that you do not tape or wrap the boxes; a rubber band will be sufficient. Place of Grace will take care of taping and wrapping as they want to make sure each child has equal amounts of items per box.
They also request that you will pray for each child represented per donated box.
All filled shoe boxes (or comparable plastic containers) should be delivered to Place of Grace no later than Nov. 30. This will give ample time to get them all together by age and gender before distributing.
The shoe boxes may contain various items for the children, for example: toys, hygiene products, candy, school supplies, winter apparel, coloring books, reading books, crayons, etc. Donors may also include a card of encouragement for the child.
The goal is to provide at least 1,000 filled shoe boxes to children in need throughout the community, as well as 1,000 bibles from the Gideons.
There will be a community Christmas party at Place of Grace from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 when the boxes will be distributed. The party will include food, music, gifts, Santa, and more.
“We are excited to invite the community out to celebrate the season with us,” said Misti-Laurel Loan. “We are also partnering with Toys for Tots, the Independent Riders of Richmond County and Standridge Auction.”
Place of Grace is currently housing 22 men and two women. The locker rooms are being refurbished for the men and women’s showers as well as the laundry room. Painting is 80% completed in the hallways and gym.
There are two separate sections — one which houses 22 men and the other houses 16 women. The men’s section is currently full.
Place of Grace is located at 252 School St. in East Rockingham, the site of the former Rohanen Middle School.
For more information, contact Loan at 479-295-3215.
