Two locations in the Durango area will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child.

The annual Samaritan’s Purse project fills shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

Donations may be dropped off at these locations:

First United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Drive: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 16, 17, 18, 19; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 20; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 21; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23.

Calvary Presbyterian Church, 89 E. Mill St. in Bayfield: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 16, 17, 18; noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 19; noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 20; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 21; noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 22 and 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 23.

For more information, call (303) 745-9179.

To pack a shoebox gift online, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and pack them in a shoebox.

Using tracking technology, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world their gift is delivered.

Durango garden club to meet Wednesday

The Garden Club of Durango will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Heartwood Cohousing Community west of Bayfield.

Dr. Richard Grossman will give a talk called “Plants, People and Population.” There will be a tour of Heartwood’s community and gardens.

Carpooling will be available from the Santa Rita Garden at noon.

For more information, call Marsha Schuetz at 247-1098.

Food drive asks you to ‘Fill the Bucket’

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of La Plata Electric Association will host its annual “Fill the Bucket” food drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at City Market, 165 Country Center Drive, and Hometown Food Market, 755 San Juan Drive, both in Pagosa Springs.

LPEA’s bucket trucks, and additional vehicles, will collect nonperishable food items (canned goods or boxed/bagged dry goods).

Donated food will be distributed to community food banks in Archuleta County.

Cash donations for the food banks also will be welcomed. Donors can make arrangements to give directly by calling 317-0496 or bring a donation by the LPEA office in Pagosa Springs at 603 S. Eighth St.

Checks can be made payable to the IBEW Local 111 Brotherhood Fund. All donated money will be distributed to the food banks.

Food distribution scheduled for Nov. 16

USDA Commodities Food Distribution will be held from 8:30 a.m. until the food runs out (typically around 10 a.m.) Nov. 16 in the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 2500 Main Ave.

Eligible participants must bring:

Proof of La Plata County residency and picture identification.

Bags or boxes.

Quantities are limited and are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, call 375-2672 or email [email protected].

Autism presentation in Ignacio on Nov. 17

An autism presentation with Jeff Newman will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Ignacio Community Library McClanahan Community Room, 470 Goddard Ave.

Newman has held leadership positions with several autism advocacy organizations, including the Autism Society of America. He has given trainings for the Colorado Department of Education, been a keynote speaker and has established many different support groups, including a monthly support group in Durango.

As a person with autism, Newman will speak about life with autism as well as offer information to caregivers and educators.

After Newman’s presentation, there will be a short question and answer session.

For more information, visit www.ignaciolibrary.org.

Learn about causes of income inequality

A presentation called “Global Income Inequality: Cause and Effect” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at 419 San Juan Drive.

The presentation and discussion is sponsored by the Social Justice Council of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango.

Participants will learn how income inequality is bad for everyone and what can be done about it.

Herald Staff