PHOTO BY MARGARET THOMSEN

GLADBROOK – In conjunction with Samaritans Purse, Peace United Church of Christ of Gladbrook recently sponsored the filling of shoeboxes. These boxes go all over the world to help make a child’s Christmas special.

The boxes were filled for boys and girls with age-appropriate toys.

The Heldenbrand children, Lydia, Jacob and Samuel are pictured with the boxes they filled with all sorts of small gifts, Barbies, crayons, small balls and markers were among the items.

This is a win-win situation as children filling the boxes learn skills of purchasing and then sharing something they would like to keep, while children recipients around the world receive a gift showing them that they are loved and someone cares for them.