Operation Christmas Child

Photo: Contributed

Canada’s 2018 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season starts today, as thousands of individuals, families, churches, businesses, sports teams, and community groups begin 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 that Canadians lovingly put in their shoeboxes, and the $10-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. 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,” said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child. “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 12-lesson evangelism and discipleship program. In 2017 alone, almost four million children in more than 100 countries enrolled in The Greatest Journey. We praise God that nearly two million of them made decisions for Christ.

National Shoebox Collection Week is Nov. 12-18: Each gift-filled 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.

To learn more, including suggestions concerning what to put in shoeboxes, please visit  samaritansPurse.ca/OCC.

About Samaritan’s Purse
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 work includes providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to
families in the developing world. Visit SamaritansPurse.ca for more information.