WELLINGTON COUNTY – Operation Christmas Child is kicking off for the upcoming winter season.
A project of Samaritans Purse Canada, the operation collects donated gifts, putting them into shoeboxes and sending them off to approximately 110 countries, where they go to children for the holidays.
The project has participants in about 10 different countries around the world.
The Hanover branch takes donations from many local areas in southern Ontario, including Wellington County.
Hanover branch team leaders Anne Hahn, Loretta Dunn, Linda Ball, Sharon Hoffarth, Susan Sakal and Bonnie Shewfelt, are starting up there efforts for this year, and felt very encouraged by a letter they received from a recipient of a shoebox in Gambia.
“I really enjoyed it very much. This is because I’m in grade one, going to grade two in the next couple of weeks,” states one of the letters from seven-year-old Therese Mendy.
“Also, I live with my mother who takes care of me as a single parent. The box had reduced the burden on my mum and made things and studies easy and lovely for me.”
In a press release Hanover officials added it was heartwarming to hear the gifts not only helped the child recipient, but reduced the pressure on the parent as well.
“I never even thought of that before,” said team leader Anne Hahn in an interview with the Advertiser.
A curbside pickup event will be held on Sept. 30 from 2 to 5pm at Hanover Missionary Church, the local drop off centre. Shoeboxes, pamphlets, and other project materials will be distributed to participating churches, groups and individuals.
Hahn added the Hanover branch tries to follow an Australian packing idea when compiling the shoeboxes. That means they try to include something to wear, something for school, something for hygiene, something to love, and something to play with in each shoebox.
National Collection Week is from Nov. 14 to 20. The centre will be staffed with local volunteers on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 from 3 to 6:30pm; Nov. 18 and Nov. 19 from 9am to 12pm and Nov. 20 from 11am to 2pm.
Completed shoeboxes will be accepted, but Hahn added organizers also will take individual donated items if necessary, and work to compile them into a shoebox.
Hahn added the Hanover efforts are not only a result of the team leaders’ work, but of the many volunteers in the community who they enlist for help during the busy season.
For more information visit samaritanspurse.ca/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child.
To learn about the Hanover efforts specifically, call 519-364-7132.
