The members of Gandy’s Cove United Methodist Church are collecting items for their Christmas boxes, which will be sent to Honduras.  

Boxes have space to indicate whether the intended recipient is a boy or girl and what age, 2-12 years old. The children do not read English, so please mark both sides of the boxes where it is printed in Spanish.  

Everyone is asked to please try to pack a full box, and the following is a list of items needed for the boxes: Hot Wheels cars, small dolls, small balls, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb and brush, pair of flip flops, shorts and T-shirts for boys and girls, one pair of socks for Sunday, McDonald’s toys, marbles – no more than five baggies, washcloth, travel–sized hand lotion, underpants and under-shirts, travel–sized shampoo, small hand mirror, dresses and Christmas story coloring books.  

All liquids should be placed in zip-top bags. Please take all tags off of items and remove all items from packaging because the children will have difficulty removing these.  

Please do not send any candy, as it attracts ants and results in cavities – and there are not enough toothbrushes or toothpaste and no dentists to preserve the children’s teeth. When a dentist can be found, he usually just pulls permanent teeth and makes no repairs.  

School supplies that are needed include four pencils in each box, paper, crayons, colored pencils and small pencil sharpeners. Also needed are little girl items such as barrettes, ribbons, bows, headbands, scrunchies and ponytail holders.  

The church will furnish the shoe boxes for the items donated. In addition to noting the age and gender, the manifest form needs to be a list of the items in the box. The customs declaration form must be filled out on the other side of the box.  

Everyone is asked to please place $4 in an envelope and tape it to the outside of the box, with $2 going to help get the box to the missionary and the other $2 helping the missionary pay for the cost of getting the boxes to those who are most in need. A $5 bill really helps!  

Please return all boxes to Larry (Bucket) Guthrie at Gandy’s Cove Church by the end of this month.  

According to Larry, the manifest is sent about a month ahead of the container; customs will enter it into their system, and the shipment will clear in half the time.  

Larry lives in Crane Hill and does mission work in Honduras, including these AHMEN Christmas shoe boxes for the children of Honduras. Larry said he has been in several of the churches in Honduras where the shoeboxes go, and this effort is personal to him because of the close relationships he has with so many in La Ceiba, Honduras.  

Larry said if you or your church would be interested in doing shoeboxes, please call him at 256-385-1370. He also would be willing to come to your church and show pictures and speak to everyone about the ministry.  

Larry expresses his thanks for everyone’s willingness to help the children in Honduras.  

Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Announcement  

The members of the Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department are happy to announce they have purchased a sanitizing mister for before and after events. The department also has a limited capacity of people in each station; 20 people at station 1 and 40 people at station 2. Please contact Stephanie Archer at 256-616-2642 if you would be interested in renting a station for any events.  

Congratulations to Danville FFA/4–H Dairy Judging Team  

Congratulations go out this week to the Danville High School FFA/4–H Dairy Judging Team, which placed second in the State 4–H Dairy Judging Contest. Each of the team members won additional awards: Skyler Moody, Charlie Jones, Ryder Griffith and Clayton Copeland. 

Danville High School Announcement  

Alabama has started a new program for student poll workers. The students will have an excused absence and be paid $50 for the day. Polling places are in need of one student, at least 16 years of age, at each polling location. Any junior or senior interested in this can email Mr. Chambers at machambers@morgank12.org.