Gurnee church hosts ‘packing party’ for needy children

Volunteers held a “packing party” Saturday to prepare boxes of toys, toiletries, clothes and candy to ship to needy children in other countries.

Operation Christmas Child was staged at Immanuel Church, 2300 Dilleys Road in Gurnee from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is a project of the nonprofit Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse.

Officials anticipated packing more than 5,000 shoe boxes for children in countries, such as Cameroon, Congo, South Sudan and the Ukraine at the event.

Immanuel Church has been hosting packing parties since 1995, organizers said.