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Students filling shoeboxes
Community assistance is needed to complete project

Art students at Williams High School have been busy decorating shoeboxes that need to be filled soon. The Shoebox Project is a community project sponsored by the WHS Art Department. During the past five years, the WHS Art Department has filled an increasing number of boxes. Last year, the students surpassed their goal and sent 175 filled boxes, which were part of 7.5 million sent from the United States.

Local art students decorate and laminate shoeboxes to be attractive for children. The boxes are then filled with donated supplies from the community and are sent to children around the world who are in serious need. These children range in age from 2-14 and are in refuge camps, hospitals, orphanages, war-torn areas and extreme slums.

Boxes are gathered by Samaritan's Purse, a Christian Relief Organization and distributed to many parts of the world to children of many faiths. Under the direction of WHS art instructor Bonnie Dent, the local student project manager is Savannah Jackson.

Donations are needed to fill the boxes that will be sent in early November. All donations need to be at the WHS by Nov. 8.

Anyone can help by donating shoeboxes, large rubber bands to fit around boxes, multiples of supplies (listed below), a filled box for a girl or boy to receive (age categories are 2-4, 5-8 and 10-14), a check filled out to Samaritan's Purse to help with shipping costs (put OCC on the memo line) or cash or check made out to Bonnie Dent for local supplies (you will receive a receipt).

Supply list suggestions include -

• School supplies - pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons, markers, paint sets, ink pad and stampers, coloring books, chalk, writing pads or paper, solar calculator and pencil box.

• Hygiene supplies - toothbrush, toothpaste, bar soap in a plastic bag, washcloth, comb, brush, band-aids, hair ties, hair clips and solid deodorant.

• Clothing/accessories - T-shirt, socks, flip-flops, underwear, ball cap, house slippers, sundress, shorts outfit, winter hat, gloves, scarf, bandanna, purse, jewelry, earrings and watch.

• Toys-age appropriate - small cars, ball, doll, stuffed toy, kazoo, harmonica, Etch-a-sketch, Slinky, puzzle, playing cars and toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries.

• Candy - hard candy in a baggie, lollipop, candy cane, mints and gum.

• Other - flashlight with batteries, picture book, small containers, plastic plate and cup.

Please do not include -

• Used, soiled or damaged items (like new is okay).

• Chocolate or food.

• War-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures.

• Liquids or lotions including shampoo, perfume and lotion.

• Vitamins or medications.

• Breakable items such as snow globes, glass containers, porcelain dolls and mirrors.

• Aerosol cans, poppers or fireworks.

Community assistance is also needed to fill the boxes. If you would like to help, contact Bonnie Dent at (928) 635-4474, ext. 237 to work out a time. You can also come to the WHS, check in through the office and help fill boxes tomorrow and Tuesday throughout the school day.


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