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Last Day for Shoebox Donations:
Sunday, 11/22/2009
 

 

 


Did you ever wonder what love looks like? We usually think of love as a verb; as an emotion. But if love was a noun what would it look like? Could you fit it in a shoebox? You could, if you were involved in our annual "Love in a Shoebox."  
 
Children in Mexico enjoy receiving the Love In A Shoebox packages.
Each year, in November, we send our love in the form of practical items placed in a shoebox for a Triquis boy or a girl who would, otherwise, have little or nothing at the holidays. The "Love in a Shoebox" program was brought to First Baptist Church of Galt by a single mom named  Tony, who had taken her kids there to live as a  missionary with her children. She met Rance and  Brandy Cook who had started a ministry there. They had been doing "Love in a Shoebox" with a number of churches in California.

First Baptist Church of Galt sent six delegates, including our former Pastor and his oldest son to personally deliver the shoeboxes in 1997. Since then, we have relied on a semi-truck to deliver the shoeboxes each year!First Baptist Church of Galt show their love for Jesus by sending gifts to the  Mexican children.

The Triquis live in Mexico's San Quintin Valley, 130 miles south of Ensenada. It is an area of significant seasonal migration, attracting up to 30,000 mostly Oaxacan Indian farm workers (including Triquis) to work in the tomato and strawberry fields that dominate the Valley. The Valley has only recently been developed and agriculture is the main economic activity there.

There are two main types of Indian farm workers: those who live in camps on private land owned by their employers (ranchers), and others who settle permanently in settlements, or colonies. The population living in camps is mostly seasonal, with the majority moving on to other sites of migration in a yearly circuit. Settlers tend to stay in San Quintin year-round.

 

The children in Mexico are grateful for the shoeboxes.Although state presence in this developing region is growing, it remains far behind the needs of the population settling there. There are no paved roads in the Valley except for the peninsula highway passing through, limited public health facilities, no sewage in any communities, poor coverage of water and electricity, and the absence of many public services and institutions (such as a full capacity hospital, public courts, etc.) which can only be found in Ensenada over 100 miles away. Settlement in the Valley has been haphazard, resulting in a disperse population removed from whatever services are available in the larger population centers.

The children receive toys, school supplies, clothing and food through Love In A Shoebox.It's so easy to get busy during the holidays and forget what one little shoebox, filled with practical items like tooth brushes, socks, tablets, and pencils can mean to a boy or girl who lives in poverty.

We would like to thank Charlotte Giddens for overseeing our "Love in a Shoebox" program every year.

Please check this page from September through November for updated information on how you can help us by getting a shoebox and filling it with love. You'll feel so good!

The children are all smiles as they hold up their shoeboxes filled with gifts.Our hope and prayer is that every family in the church will prepare at least one shoebox this year (some people have done as many as ten).

If you are visiting this site and would like to make a donation to help defray the cost of transporting the shoeboxes, you can write a check to: First Baptist Church,  653 "A" Street  Galt, CA 95632 (Designate-Love in a Shoebox). For more information, contact us!

 

Thank you on behalf of the Triqui children!


ITEMS FOR THE SHOEBOX

ToothbrushHand LotionGlue
ToothpasteBand AidsPencil Sharpener
ShampooSocksErasers
Hair BrushUnderwearColoring Books
CombPencilsColored Pencils
Bar SoapPensToys
Chap StickNotebooksWrapped Candy
Wash ClothCrayonsGames

HOW TO WRAP THE SHOEBOX

An actual shoebox may be used, but a plastic "shoebox size" container is preferred. Just fill the container, and tie it with heavy gift wrap yarn. On the top of the lid, write BOY or GIRL and the approximate AGE with a permanent marker.

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