Hillcrest Christian School helps children for Christmas

The elementary school students at Hillcrest Christian School in Thousand Oaks recently collected 183 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child 2005. This is an annual school event to help children around the world.

“Each box is an opportunity to reach out to children with the message of God’s love,” said Stephen Allen, head of the school.

Hillcrest Christian School families continue to collect new toys and clothes for children for the Christmas Shoppe the school will host on Sat., Dec. 10. Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, The Rock Church in Calabasas and several other churches are organizing this event to help those who cannot afford retail-priced Christmas gifts to buy presents at a reduced cost.

Parents at the school are also collecting new toys and clothes to support the Christmas effort of giving through Support for the Kids, a local nonprofit organization that supports foster children in Ventura County.

For more information, call (805) 497-750