Good Samaritan Wildflower Terrace residents in Alliance surpassed all their previous efforts for raising money for Jane’s Closet this year.

Bette Murray, a volunteer at Wildflower Terrace, organizes events to sell the handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pins crafted by residents of Wildflower Terrace throughout the year.

The jewelry was sold at Kmart, Bowl-Mor Lanes, local hair salons, Heritage Days Family Night and the Stand Up for Cancer Auction, to name just a few.

The group recently presented Jane’s Closet representative Lori Mazanec (at left) with a check for $2,020, far above last year’s total of $1,309.

The group is looking for ways to expand their selection next year and to include something for men as well.

Jane’s Closet helps those diagnosed with cancer and their families in a variety of ways. Area residents can contact Ms. Mazanec at 308-762-4357, ext. 3428.

HEMINGFORD WINNERS POSE WITH ALAN DANBOM

 ALLIANCE ST. AGNES WINNERS

Alliance Lions Club is announcing the winners of the local competition in Lions International Peace Poster Contest. The Lions Club Peace Posters were selected for originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “Imagine Peace”.

These students have taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Alliance Lions Club. These student’s posters are among more than 350,000 entries submitted worldwide in the 25th annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

Lions club international is sponsoring the contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere. The posters were selected for  originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme,“Imagine Peace”.
Hemingford School winners were: First Place Jacobi Stumpff, Second Place: Mercedes Mazenec, Third Pace: Emily Knote.  Honorable Mention winners are: Luke Cullan, Lauren Gasseling, Cade Payne, Mackenzie Glendy, Joe Mazanec, and Justin Davis.

St. Agnes winners are: First Place: Autumn Hoff,  Second Place: Cherokee Purviance, Third Pace Tie Megan Oligmueller and Dylan Horton. Honorable Mention winners are:  Bailey Johnson, Josie Otto and Chloe Herrera.

Each year’s contest consists of an original theme incorporating peace. Twenty four international finalists are selected each year, representing the work of more than 350,000 young participants worldwide. Posters are shared globally via the Internet, the media and exhibits around the world. Each poster is judged on originality, artistic merit and expression of the theme.

The first place posters will advance to face stiff competition through the district, multiple district and international rounds of competition if he/she is to be declared the international grand prize winner.

One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of US $2,500, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to New York City, New York, USA for the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of US $500.

This is the collection week for Operation Christmas Child — also known as Operation Shoebox.  It’s the world’s largest Christmas project, established in 1993 by Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization which provides spiritual and physical aid around the world.

Shoeboxes are filled with toys, candy, school supplies, and other items by supporters and brought to local distribution centers. Operation Christmas Child has distributed more than 85 million shoeboxes over the years to children in 130 countries, and has a goal this year topping the 100-million shoebox mark.

Shoeboxes will be collected through Sunday at local drop-off sites, with days and hours set by each site. There are sites in eight Panhandle towns this year, including: Chadron, Gordon, Alliance, Harrison, Sidney, Kimball, Gering, and Scottsbluff.  Most community collection sites are churches, and that’s true in the Panhandle.

In Harrison, it’s the Harrison Bible Church while in Alliance, Sidney and Kimball, it’s the local Evangelical Free Church.  The Gordon site is the Church of God, and the Chadron location is the First Baptist Church.

In Gering, though, its Johnson Cashway,  while Scottsbluff has three locations, Panhandle Coop-Main Street Market, Wal-Mart, and the First Baptist Church.

The First Baptist Church is also the regional collection point.

Area coordinator Carissa Smith says the Panhandle goal is 3,100 shoeboxes…and she filled 250 boxes last month with the help of local children at the Kids Explore event in Mitchell.

Other local drop-off sites in the Double Q Country listening area are the Lifeway Church in Torrington, the Open Bible Living Center in Rapid City, the Living Outreach Church in Custer, and the Hot Springs Wesleyan Church, which is also a regional collection point. Days and hours are set by each local center.

Operation Christmas Child has pre-printed boxes for filling, but Hawthorn says they aren’t required. Regular shoeboxes are welcome as are shoebox-sized plastic containers, which have the added advantage of becoming long-term storage containers for the kids.

The boxes can be wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper, but the top and bottom need to be wrapped separately so volunteers can check the contents.

Gift-givers can choose to buy for a boy or a girl and can even select an age range. Each collection site has a flyer on suitable items, with the Operation Christmas Child website, operationchristmaschild.org, also has suggested gifts ideas and tips on how to pack the boxes.

Shoebox donors are asked to contribute $7 per box to help with shipping costs, but it’s not mandatory and those who don’t fill shoeboxes are encouraged to contribute toward the shipping.

Checks may be made out to Samaritan’s Purse with “OCC” written on the memo line and placed in the shoebox, or payments can be paid online. Online donors will be notified by e-mail which country will receive their box.