Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, collects shoebox gifts – filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys – and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. Each shoebox is so much more than a simple gift – it’s an opportunity for a child to experience the tangible love of people who care.
This is the time of year when we think of getting gifts for our loved ones in time for Christmas and we also have the opportunity to send a little extra to a needy child. Last year Operation Christmas Child sent 912 filled shoeboxes from the Coast and are aiming for 1,000 this year. You can pick up empty red and green boxes at local Gibsons Building Supplies (both locations) IGA (both locations), local Dollar Stores, and local churches. The local collection centre is Calvary Baptist Church, 711 Park Rd. in Gibsons, or you can call local co-ordinator Martha Schroth at 604-886-8545 if you need boxes or have questions. Please return the filled boxes as quickly as possible to the same locations. The national deadline is Nov. 12 to 18, but the local deadline is Nov. 5 to 12 to enable volunteers to pack them into cartons by national deadline. To learn more, visit www.SamaritansPurse.ca/OCC
Samaritan’s Purse began collecting gift-filled shoeboxes for children in war-torn Bosnia 25 years ago in 1993. Over the past two and half decades, 157 million children around the world have received Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
Organizers wish to thank to everyone who participates in this project, especially those who do so year after year. These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message of hope and continue to transform the lives of children worldwide.
– Submitted by Martha Schroth
