Canadians donate more than 700,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to the world's hurting children

Shoebox donations surpass 2013 donations by 5.5 percent; online shoebox option helps those who missed collection deadline

CALGARY, Jan. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Thank you Canada; you did it again! Canadians donated 700,474 shoeboxes packed with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies during the 2014 Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign. This is 35,408 more than the 2013 total of 664,066 shoeboxes.

Distribution of the 2014 shoeboxes in the developing world has already begun. During the next few weeks, children in Chile, Nicaragua, Senegal, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Uruguay, Venezuela and Costa Rica will be receiving shoeboxes packed by caring Canadians. 

Two new destinations were added to the 2014 list: Ukraine and the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Both have been wracked with violence, and thousands of children and their families have had to flee for their lives, leaving everything behind. These shoebox gifts show them that people in Canada know about their plight and care about what happens to them. Samaritan's Purse has also been supplying these refugees with emergency food, clothing, blankets, and more.

"We are thrilled to be sending more than 700,000 lovingly-packed shoeboxes to children who need them most," said Randy Crosson, Director of Operation Christmas Child Canada. "Each shoebox is a chance to show hurting children that they are loved by God and by us, and the generosity of Canadians will once again bless children who likely have never before received a gift."

More than 5,000 shoeboxes were packed online in 2014 as thousands of Canadians took advantage of Operation Christmas Child's Internet option that enables visitors to PackaBox.ca to choose shoebox gifts, upload personal notes and photos, and make donations. Canadians can use the website year-round to pack shoeboxes for needy children.        

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and development organization. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand-delivered more than 113 million shoebox gifts to children in over 130 countries affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease, and famine.

About Samaritan's Purse Canada
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 initiatives include providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world. Learn more at SamaritansPurse.ca.

SOURCE Samaritan's Purse Canada

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