MOOSE JAW — Several residents united at the Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries late last week to participate in the annual Operation Christmas Child packing party where they filled shoeboxes with essential and heartwarming gift items for children in need.
Over four days from Nov. 13 to 17, around 28 volunteers packed shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, hygiene items, and stuffed animals.
These gift boxes are typically destined for third-world countries where they bring hope and joy to children and their families.
“It’s so important, because this is the only gift that some of these kids will ever get. They (may) only get one of these shoeboxes in their lifetime, because there are so many areas that Samaritan’s Purse (aims to help),” explained Mary Ellen Willis, the program’s Moose Jaw co-ordinator at the conclusion of last year’s packing party.
Operation Christmas Child is organized by Samaritan’s Purse and each year the owners of Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries — who themselves are long-time supporters of the program — host the packing party voluntarily.
Volunteers are encouraged to pack the boxes “as God leads you,” ensuring that each one is filled to the brim with meaningful and high-quality items. If one of the boxes has space leftover, it gets sent back so some toy or practical item can fill the space.
“We don’t pack air,” Willis emphasized in an earlier statement.
The program’s ongoing success — especially with a new local record set last year — and the reaction of those who receive a gift highlights the impact of Operation Christmas Child and demonstrates why Willis has been a supporter for the past 16 years.
“(These) kids are grown up now, and they got a box when they were two or three years old. They can still remember that when they’re 25 years old,” she reminisced earlier.
Last year’s Moose Jaw campaign concluded with a record-setting number of donations — 1,700 boxes were packed with an additional 580 shoeboxes collected at the Alliance Church. It’s still too early to confirm any details on this year’s ongoing campaign, however.
Operation Christmas Child’s collection week continues to run from Nov. 18 until Sunday, Nov. 24.
The Moose Jaw Alliance Church at 14 Neslia Place and the Victory Church at 637 Main Street North are serving as this year’s drop-off locations and additional donations will be accepted until its final date.
Everyone’s also invited to fill a box virtually by visiting PackABox.ca.
For more information on Samaritan's Purse, visit SamaritansPurse.ca.
Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries is located north of the Trans Canada Highway and approximately one kilometre east of the Battle Creek Adventure Park, or about 20 kilometres (15 minutes) east of Moose Jaw.
