Moose Jaw residents opened their hearts this past December to help less fortunate children throughout the world have a joyous holiday as part of Operation Christmas Child’s shoebox campaign.
Canadians lovingly packed 490,471 shoeboxes with toys, hygiene products, school supplies and other items during the 2019 campaign that recently ended. People in Saskatchewan packed 25,591 shoeboxes, while in Moose Jaw 2,849 boxes were packed; this is an increase of nearly 50 per cent over last year when 1,902 shoeboxes were donated.
Distribution of the shoeboxes in the developing world has already begun. During the next few weeks, children in Central America and western Africa will be receiving shoeboxes packed by caring Canadians, according to a news release.
The 490,471 boxes donated in 2019 — including 12,098 packed online at PackaBox.ca — were part of a worldwide total of 10,569,405 collected in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Australia, and New Zealand.
“We are extremely thankful to Canadians, many of whom are unemployed or facing significant economic uncertainty, for their generosity in continuing to support this vital program year after year,” said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child Canada.
“Each shoebox that someone fills is an opportunity to show hurting children that they are loved by God and by us, and the gifts Canadians have provided will once again bless children — many of whom have never before received a present.”
Where it is culturally appropriate, all children who receive a shoebox are invited to attend The Greatest Journey, Samaritan’s Purse’s 12-lesson evangelism and discipleship program. Since 2010, more than nine million children have decided to become Christians through The Greatest Journey.
Year-round option
Thousands of Canadians take advantage of Operation Christmas Child’s internet option that enables them to pack shoeboxes all year round at PackaBox.ca. Canadians can choose shoebox gift items while also uploading personal notes and photos.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand-delivered more than 177 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 130 countries hurt by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease, and famine.
Samaritan’s Purse Canada
Operation Christmas Child is a program of Samaritan’s Purse Canada, a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ’s biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Besides Operation Christmas Child, the organization’s initiatives include providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world.
Visit SamaritansPurse.ca for more information.
