MARQUETTE — Six years later, Bethel Baptist Church in Marquette is still going strong as the Marquette County drop-off location for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.

The collection is held annually the third week of November and will be starting Wednesday. Bethel Baptist is located at 829 Grove St. in Marquette.

Last year, a total of 1,566 boxes were collected at Bethel Baptist from Marquette County and sent to Uganda.

“It would be a dream to reach 2,000 boxes from Marquette County,” said Sandy Thomsen, a member of Bethel Baptist.

Gift boxes are collected at the church and then sent to Minneapolis where they are checked for any items not allowed by customs or Samaritan’s Purse.

Gifts not to be included are: war toys, such as guns, knives or military figures; vitamins; medications; food; candy; or any items that are breakable.

Once processed, the boxes are repacked and sent to their final destination, which can be anywhere in the world, including here in the United States.

“Bethel Baptist does not find out until they ship where they are headed,” said Thomsen.

Boxes are usually sent out in the beginning of December but sometimes due to customs they can take up to six months to reach some countries.

Participants looking to fill a box are asked to use an empty shoebox and fill it with gender- and age-specific items. When preparing the box be sure to mark the ages on the side, which are 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14.

Thomsen said some ideas of what children like include: “school supplies (pencils, markers, erasers, notebooks, sharpeners, etc.); clothing; shoes — especially flip flops; sunglasses; always a Beanie Baby, my choice; toothbrush — no paste, kids were eating it; washcloth and soap; balls; yo-yo; jump ropes; hair brushes; cars. I also have packed tools for the older kids.” Representatives from Samaritan’s Purse are there when the children receive and open their boxes and capture the experiences on video.

Thomsen said she looks forward to: “The thought that the Gospel of Christ reaches each of these children and their families. Most have never heard it and after hearing the message in a 12-part study, the children receive a Bible in their native language.”

This year the shipping cost per box will be $9. This covers the cost of “The Greatest Journey Bible Study,” which is the 12-week study for children on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Bible the children receive in their own language.

The drop-off times will be from 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday; 9:30 a.m.-noon and 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information about Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child, visit the website https://www.samaritanspurse.org/. You can also call Bethel Baptist at 906-228-7589.

Amy Grigas can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 243.