Shoebox gifts to help needy youngsters

Canada’s 2018 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season is underway, with thousands of individuals, families, churches, businesses, sports teams and community groups packing shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, plus personal notes and photos.

Operation Christmas Child is an annual initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization that works in more than 100 countries. Thanks to all the items Canadians put in their shoeboxes, and the $10-perbox 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.

National Shoebox Collection Week is Nov. 12-18. Each giftfilled shoebox packed, donated, and delivered to one of hundreds of collection centers throughout Canada by Nov. 18 will make a long journey into the arms of a needy child in Haiti, Latin America, or West Africa. People can also pack boxes online at PackABox.ca.

In Lethbridge, collection centres include:

• Park Meadows Baptist Church, 2011 15 Ave. N.

• Today's Country 95-5/All Hits B-93, 220 - 410 7 St. S.

• Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge, 4717 24 Ave. S.

Last year, Canadians filled more than 615,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared God’s love and hope with struggling children in poverty-stricken countries. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed almost 157 million shoebox gifts around the globe.

“Every shoebox packed by Canadians enables us to reach into some of the darkest and most isolated parts of the developing world,” Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child, said in a news release.

“Please consider packing just one more box to increase the impact you and Operation Christmas Child will have this season.”

Shoeboxes are given as unconditional gifts regardless of the child’s race, religion or gender. When given, they often open doors for Samaritan’s Purse to work with local community leaders in identifying and addressing important needs such as clean water, literacy, vocational training for women, school meals for children, etc.

When possible, Samaritan’s Purse offers shoebox recipients the opportunity to participate in The Greatest Journey, a 12lesson evangelism and discipleship program. In 2017 alone, almost four million children in more than 100 countries enrolled in The Greatest Journey.