Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 30/02) - While many children are writing their wish list to Santa, countless others worldwide are wondering where their next meal will come from.

Fortunately, Samaritan's Purse is hoping to help kids who are suffering because of hunger and poverty.

Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse in Canada has sent nearly three million shoe boxes -- containing toys and hygiene items -- to children around the world.

This year the organization is looking to surpass that million mark and organizers in Yellowknife are hoping residents will get involved. Last year, about 550 Christmas shoe boxes were collected in Yellowknife, according to Judy Reath, who has been involved with Samaritans Purse in Yellowknife since 1999.

Donation requirements are as follows:

- Find an empty shoebox.

- Decide whether your gift will be for a male or female, and the age category. Age categories are two to four, five to nine, and 10 to 14. Label the box accordingly.

- Fill the box with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and some small miscellaneous items such as jewelry or ball caps. It is asked that war-related items (toy guns, action figures etc.), used items, chocolate, canned or perishable foods, liquid items, medicine, fragile items, cosmetics or things like chapter books and liquid glue not be included.

- At least $5 must be included with the package to cover shipping and handling.

Reath said boxes can also be made to go to teachers overseas and include school supplies and other school-related material.

"Teachers overseas, they basically have nothing. They can't just go to the store and buy paper clips," said Reath.

Shoe boxes will be distributed to children in 21 countries in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. This year, the collection site for the boxes will be the Salvation Army. The collection date is Nov. 8.