Canadians donate more than 730,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to the world's hurting children

Shoebox donations in 2015 surpass 2014 total by more than 30,000; online shoebox option available to Canadians year-round

CALGARY, Jan. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - Thank you Canada! You did it again! Canadians donated 730,577 shoeboxes packed with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and more during the 2015 Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign that recently ended. The total was 30,103 more boxes than the 700,474 in 2014.

Distribution of the 2015 shoeboxes in the developing world has already begun. During the next few weeks, children in Haiti, Chile, El Salvador, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Uruguay, and Costa Rica will be receiving shoeboxes packed by caring Canadians. 

For the second consecutive year, shoeboxes from Canada are also going to Ukraine. It has been wracked with violence, and thousands of children and their families have been forced to flee for their lives—leaving everything behind. The gift-filled shoeboxes show them that people in Canada know about their plight and care about what happens to them. Samaritan's Purse has also been supplying Ukrainian families with emergency food, clothing, blankets, and more.

"This is the second consecutive year that Canadians have packed at least 30,000 more boxes than the year before," 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."

Canada's contribution is part of the worldwide 2015 collection total of more than 11 million shoeboxes. Some of those boxes are going to war refugees in Iraq, as well as to those who have fled to Europe.

The 2015 shoebox total for Canada includes 9,000 that were packed online. Thousands of Canadians took advantage of Operation Christmas Child's convenient Internet option that enables visitors to donate at PackaBox.ca. They chose shoebox gift items while also uploading personal notes and photos. 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 124 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 130 countries hurt 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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