If you haven’t yet dropped off a shoebox full of goodies for needy children around the world, now is the time.

The Operation Christmas Child shoebox program is winding up this weekend, so they are encouraging everyone to get on board and get a box on the bus by Saturday.

This year, the shoeboxes are going to Paraguay, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.

They can be dropped off locally this week at the Cariboo Christian Life Academy (CCLF) from 9 a.m. to noon at the administration building, or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, which is their deadline; or at the Greyhound bus depot in 100 Mile House from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 11 a.m. to noon) until Nov. 23. Greyhound ships the packages free to Calgary.

Recommended items include small toys such as die-cast cars; small games or little dolls (no weapons or playing cards); hard candies, sour rolls, Pez or similar treats (no chocolate, gum or soft candy); school supplies and notebooks; light clothing, socks, underwear, sandals, mitts or toques (rolling things up and tying it will fit more in the box); and brush, combs or personal care items (no toothpaste, liquids or glass).

Paul Scott, who co-ordinates the local program together with his wife, Karen, says youths often have a harder time getting donations.

“A lot of the advertising shows young children, so we can forget there are a lot of teenagers going through horrendous hardships.

“Something like this can really brighten them up, even briefly. We forget that teenagers are still children.”

Shoe boxes should be labelled, indicating whether they are for a girl or a boy and the intended age group, which are grouped between two and four years, five and nine years, or 10-14 years.

Although boxes can be picked up at the CCLF if you need one, Scott recommends purchasing a shoe box-sized, lidded plastic container that can then also function as a useful storage box for the child. All items must be new, not used, as these and other customs regulations can prevent shipping across borders.

For more information, call Scott at 250-706-3335 or download “How to pack your shoe box” from the website at www.samaritans purse.ca/occ/.