Operation Christmas Child 2019 kicks off

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

Canada’s 2019 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season has started, and thousands of individuals, families, churches, businesses, sports teams and community groups are busy packing shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items, plus personal notes and photos.
Operation Christmas Child is an annual initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization that works in more than 100 countries.
Thanks to all the items that Canadians put in their shoeboxes, and the $10-per-box they donate to cover shipping and other program costs, Samaritan’s Purse is able to deliver the boxes to children around the world living in the midst of poverty, disease, war and natural disaster.
Last year, the Strathmore collection centre received a total of 818 boxes to add to Alberta’s contribution of 113,169 shoeboxes. This was added to the more than 517,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared love and hope with struggling children in West Africa and Central America. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 167 million shoebox gifts in over 100 countries.
“Every shoebox packed by Canadians enables us to offer hope and joy to children in some of the most impoverished parts of the world,” said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child. “Please consider packing just one more box to increase the impact you and Operation Christmas Child will have this season.”
The Operation Christmas Child shoebox drop-off location in Strathmore is at Strathmore Alliance Church, 325 First Ave. Days and hours of operation during next week’s National Shoebox Collection Week: Nov. 19 – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Nov. 20 – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; Nov. 21 – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Nov. 22 – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Nov. 23 – 9 a.m. to noon.
People can also pack boxes online at PackABox.ca.
For suggestions on what to put in shoeboxes, visit SamaritansPurse.ca/OCC.