National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes runs from Nov. 19 to 25; Canadians set to bless hurting children overseas through the power of a simple gift
CALGARY, Nov. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - The 2012 Operation Christmas Child shoe box collection season reaches its pinnacle this week, as thousands of Canadians drop off their gift-filled shoe boxes to be sent overseas. National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child (a project of Samaritan's Purse) runs from Nov. 19 to 25, and designated collection centers across Canada are ready to receive shoe boxes packed with love.
The campaign kicked off on Oct. 9 and has seen volunteers and supporters across Canada hosting and attending shoe box packing parties, fundraisers, school, church, and club-led initiatives, plus parades and even Operation Christmas Child-themed birthday parties. Families have been teaching their children the importance of generosity as they select shoe box gifts, and senior citizens have been packing shoe boxes as a way to give back as well.
Canadians participating in Operation Christmas Child have been choosing whether they want their shoe boxes to go to a boy or girl, and picking one of the three age ranges: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. The boxes have then been filled with school supplies, hygiene items, toys, and candy, plus a minimum $7 suggested donation for shipping and other project-related costs. Many donors have also included a note to the recipient child, and a photo of their family that the child will treasure.
"Operation Christmas Child is a simple but profound way for Canadians to express their thankfulness at Christmas time by blessing a child in a developing nation who lacks the basic things we take for granted," said Samaritan's Purse Executive Director Fred Weiss.
All of our Operation Christmas Child efforts are in partnership with volunteer leadership teams in the recipient countries. These partners are deeply committed to helping in their communities, and know their communities' needs. When shoe boxes are distributed, our partners have determined which children are in most need of a gift-filled shoe box. Those children are then invited to the distribution event to ensure that no child not earmarked to receive a gift will feel left out.
We also work with our local partners—usually churches—to meet other community needs. In this way, a gift-filled shoe box donated by a caring Canadian can lead to a wide variety of other forms of Samaritan's Purse assistance including school-based feeding programs, medical aid, literacy skills for young mothers, and/or safe drinking water from our BioSand Water Filters.
It's not too late for Canadians to pack one or more shoe boxes this year. They can visit SamaritansPurse.ca/occ and click on the Collection Center locator map to enter their postal code and locate their nearest shoe box drop-off point. The same information is available by calling 1-800-303-1269.
100 Million Boxes!
Last year, Canadians filled 672,274 Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes with gifts destined for children in the developing world. This year, Samaritan's Purse is counting on Canadians' generosity to collect and distribute the 100-millionth shoe box globally since we took over the program in 1993.
To arrange an interview with a local, national, or international representative of Operation Christmas Child, to obtain information about a shoe box event or story idea in your area, or for more information about Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, please contact:
Frank King, Communications Manager
Samaritan's Purse Canada
[email protected] or 1.800.663-6500
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been a vital project of Samaritan's Purse—a Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.
SOURCE: Samaritan's Purse Canada
Frank King, Communications Manager
Samaritan's Purse Canada
[email protected] or 1.800.663-6500
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