Operation Christmas Child

By Joan Janzen

Operation Christmas Child is designed to meet the needs of children around the world by distributing gifts. Every year in early November, individuals are invited to fill a shoebox with everything a child would love to receive during the Christmas season. Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches worldwide in this endeavour, which began in 1993.

It all began when a man in England approached the president of Samaritan’s Purse, asking if he would be willing to fill shoeboxes with gifts for children in war-torn Bosnia. Since then, Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children worldwide, which have been delivered to 188 million children in more than 170 countries. This is made possible with the assistance of tens of thousands of volunteers from local churches around the world, including churches in Kindersley.

Operation Christmas Child Canada focuses their efforts in West Coast Africa and Central America. These are the areas designated to them.

The colourful shoeboxes are provided; all that remains is for each one to be filled by generous citizens. Each box is labeled for either children ages 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14, depending on the contents, accompanied by a donation of $10 to help cover project costs, including shipping.

This year, all the filled shoeboxes were brought to New Life Community Church in Kindersley by November 10. The generosity of local participants will ensure children around the world will receive a gift this Christmas.

Children in the Dominican Republic were thrilled when they opened their gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes last Christmas, and Operation Christmas Child is making it happen once again.