WELLINGTON COUNTY – Canada’s 2024 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season is underway.
Individuals, families, churches, businesses, sports teams, and community groups are packing shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, personal notes and photos, to be delivered to children in need around the world.
Operation Christmas Child is an annual initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization that works in more than 100 countries.
Last year, Canadians filled more than 425,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared God’s love and hope with struggling children in West Africa, Central America, Ukraine and Philippines.
This year, the shoeboxes will be shipped to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Philippines, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and for the first time, Cape Verde.
In a world weighed down with inflation, political turmoil and the effects of war, children need joy more than ever.
Thanks to the items that Canadians lovingly put in their shoeboxes, and the $12-per-box they donate to cover shipping and other program costs, Samaritan’s Purse is able to deliver the boxes to children around the world living in the midst of poverty, disease, war, and natural disaster.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 220 million shoebox gifts in more than 130 countries.
“Struggling children and families need hope,” said Kendra Shields, director of Operation Christmas Child.
“This is the essence of Operation Christmas Child. Every shoebox gift is an opportunity for a child to learn that he or she matters to Canadians and, most importantly, matters to God.
“That’s why I want everyone to help as many children in need as possible by packing shoeboxes.”
National shoebox collection week is Nov. 18 to 24.
Each gift-filled shoebox packed, donated, and delivered to one of hundreds of drop-off locations throughout Canada by Nov. 24 will make a long journey into the arms of a child in need.
Local drop-off locations include:
– Guelph’s Parkwood Gardens Church (501 Whitelaw Rd.) between 2 and 7pm on Nov 21 and 22 and Nov. 23 between 12 and 6pm;
– Kitchener’s Hope Lutheran Church (30 Shaftsbury Dr.) between 12 and 3pm on Nov. 22 and between 10am and 2pm on Nov. 23;
– Elmira’s Living Waters Book and Toy Store (122 Church St. W.) between 1 and 5pm on Nov. 18, 10am and 3pm on Nov. 19, 10am and 5pm on Nov. 20, 1pm and 8pm on Nov. 21, 10am and 3pm on Nov. 22, and 10am and 5pm on Nov. 23.
– Orangeville’s Broadway Church (556 Broadway Ave.) on Nov. 19 and 20 between 5:30pm and 8pm, Nov. 22 between 12 and 3pm, and Nov. 24 between 9am and 1pm.
– Hanover Missionary Church (628 11th St.) between 3 and 6pm on Nov. 19 and 20, 9am to 12pm on Nov. 22 and 23, and Nov. 24 between 11am to 2pm.
The Hanover drop-off point received over 4,000 shoeboxes last year, including 840 from Shiloh Community Church in Tiverton.
Ontario is one of the largest donors of shoebox gifts, delivering more than 154,000 last year.
Canadians can also pack boxes online at PackABox.ca.
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,” officials state.
Besides Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse’s work includes providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world.
Visit SamaritansPurse.ca for more information.
