Editor, Times-Union: I attend Warsaw Baptist Church and we would like to invite the public to join us in Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Franklin Graham's and Samaritans Purse. Shoe boxes are filled with gifts, school supplies, hygiene items and other small items. It is wrapped and sent to children around the world who would not otherwise have a Christmas.
Brochures with gift lists and tags will be available at the church. Otherwise this is how it works:
Find an empty shoe box. You can wrap it if you like, but wrap the lid separate. Decide whether your gift is for a boy or girl and choose an age category: (2-4), (5-9) or (10-12). Attach the appropriate label (boy or girl). Fill your shoe box with a variety of items:
n Toys: small cars, balls, doll, stuffed animal, yo yo, kazoo, harmonica, toys that light up or make noise, etc.
n School supplies: pens, pencils and sharpener, paper, crayons, coloring books, etc.
n Hygiene items: toothbrush, comb, toothpaste, soap, wash cloth, etc.
n Other: hard candy, gum, sunglasses, hats, gloves, T-shirt, flashlight and batteries are a big item, hair clips, watches, diaries, nonperishable items only, etc.
n Shipping: requires $5 put inside the shoe box for later, when it arrives at Samaritans Purse for transport by plane.
Drop it by the church on or before noon on Nov. 21. On the 21st, the shoe boxes will be taken to an area drop site where they will be forwarded to Samaritans Purse and prepared for Operation Christmas Child. From there they will be delivered by plane to children all over the world. For information and labels please contact Warsaw Baptist Church 269-5246. Or read about Samaritans Purse on their Web site.
Jill Newell Warsaw via e-mail
Election Thanks
Editor, Times-Union: I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all who voted on Tuesday. Your vote was very important for the stance of democracy here and around the world.
Also, there are a few individuals I would like to thank in regards to the elections. First of all, thank you to Mr. Eric Kelley, who is the leader of the Kosciusko County Young Republicans, of which I am a part. He did a great job at rallying the group for various activities, events and jobs that needed to be done prior to the election. Thank you, Eric.
Also, thank you to Mr. Sam Whitaker who went around town on the night of the election taking down various political signs for Mitch Daniels. I have been in other cities and towns where these signs get left up for months after the fact and they become trashy and end up blowing their way into someone else's yard for them to pick up. So thank you for taking the responsibility to see that this got done.
Finally, thank you to those people who worked and volunteered late into the evening at the county clerk's office to tally the votes. Your time and your work were and are appreciated.
Thank you and God bless all.
Tami Miller Winona Lake via e-mail
Walgreens
Dear Editor: Just a note to thank the City of Warsaw for making it possible for the Walgreen Drug Store to build in Warsaw. They did a great job on that whole corner. Their facility is always neat and clean and is accessible in getting in and out of their parking lot. I appreciate their many good products and bargains.
One thing that impressed me is that because their sales brochure comes in our Saturday newspaper (due to the fact that we do not have a Sunday paper), they honor all sale items on Saturday. This is helpful.
I trust they will stay in our community for many years.
Maryanne Arden Winona Lake
Tank
Dear Editor: American Legion Post #49 completed the task of getting the veterans' extremely rare Stuart tank painted and lettered. We could not have completed the mission without the help of some very dedicated people. Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine, the people of Sherwin Williams, Lake City Painting and Brick Street Embroidery of Leesburg. The tank is located on the southwest corner of the old courthouse square. You will notice the name Teresa on both sides. This is in honor of Teresa Smith, Times-Union reporter, who was voted the outstanding reporter of the year by American Legion Post #49 because of her wonderful and timely, articles about our friends and neighbors who fought for our freedom in World War II. Commissioner Ron Truex, Avis Gunter and Brad Jackson, gave the Legion the go ahead in order to save this valuable piece of history.
Bob Morrison Warsaw 2nd Vice, American Legion Post #49
