National Collection Week—when everyone's boxes are to be at Collection Centers—is November 14-20
CALGARY, Oct. 11, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canada-wide 2016 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season—an annual initiative of Samaritan's Purse Canada for 23 years—starts today.
It's when thousands of individuals, families, churches, businesses, sports teams, and community groups begin packing shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, plus personal notes and photos.
Thanks to $7 donations from generous Operation Christmas Child supporters, Samaritan's Purse is able to deliver the gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world living in the midst of poverty, disease, war, and natural disaster.
Last year, Canadians filled more than 730,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared God's love and hope with children in the developing world. And since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 135 million shoebox gifts around the globe.
"I've just returned from seeing our work in West Africa," said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child. "Seeing the joy and hope in the eyes of these children and their families is simply miraculous. Please join us and be part of bringing God's love and hope to many more."
Shoeboxes are given as unconditional gifts regardless of the child's race, religion or gender. When given, they often open doors for Samaritan's Purse to work with local community leaders in identifying and addressing other needs, such as clean water, literacy and vocational training for women, school meals for children, etc.
National Shoebox Collection Week is Nov. 14-20: Each gift-filled shoebox packed, donated, and delivered to one of hundreds of collection centers in Canada by Nov. 20 will make a long journey into the arms of a needy child in Haiti, Latin America, Ukraine, or West Africa. People can also conveniently pack boxes online, and even include a personal note and photo, at PackABox.ca.
Media Resources: Operation Christmas Child radio, TV, and general media kits are available here.
To learn more, visit SamaritansPurse.ca/OCC.
About Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse is a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ's biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Like that Good Samaritan, who found a beaten man and helped restore him, we aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. Besides Operation Christmas Child, our work includes providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world.
Visit our website at SamaritansPurse.ca.
SOURCE Samaritan's Purse Canada
News Media: To interview a local, national, or international representative of Operation Christmas Child, to obtain information about shoebox events, or to locate the shoebox drop-off locations, please contact: Frank King, News Media Relations Manager, Samaritan's Purse Canada, 1.800.303.1269 or cell: 403-990-0161 or [email protected]
Share this article