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POLL: Operation Christmas Child launches in Prince Albert

Oct 11, 2013 | 6:26 AM

Operation Christmas Child launched on Thursday in Prince Albert and Parkland Ambulance will be collecting boxes filled with gifts for children in developing nations this holiday season.

The shoebox-sized boxes can be filled with toys, school supplies or other items appropriate for a boy or girl of a chosen age range (2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years old). Shoeboxes can also be built online  – donors can select the age of the recipient, the items they’d like to fill the box with, and then place their order.

Parkland Ambulance’s Lyle Karasiuk said the boxes from Western Canada tend to end up in Central and South America. “But they can actually end up anywhere in the world.”

All of the boxes they collect will be shipped to Samaritan’s Purse in Calgary – this leg of the boxes’ journey will be free, courtesy of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC).

In Calgary, the boxes will be processed during collection week – which is the third week of November. When the boxes are processed, inappropriate items are removed.

“Sometimes somebody will throw in something that they had good intentions for, but really wasn’t appropriate,” Karasiuk said. Such items would include playing cards, toy weapons and bubble gum.

When the boxes are processed, items will be added to the ones that aren’t quite full. The items that they add will come from bulk item donations, such as a bulk mini-soccer balls. Karasiuk is also inviting donations of bulk items.

Donors are being asked to include $7 with each box donated, which will offset the cost of shipping, handling and processing. However, if the donor doesn’t provide the $7, they will still be allowed to drop off the box.

This is the fourth year that Parkland Ambulance will be involved in the charitable drive. An employee who has since moved on wanted to get involved in a community project years ago, and this charity piqued her interest. As well, MD Ambulance in Saskatoon has been involved with the charity for a few years.

“We had been a part of their toy drive, and their Christmas Child Drive and thought, ‘that’s a great way for us to be also involved as well,’” Karasiuk said.

Last year, more than 1,600 boxes were packed in Prince Albert. Churches are among the major donors in the community, and schools have also been involved too.

Boxes are available through Parkland Ambulance by calling 953-8358 or by visiting the Second Avenue West location. Donors don’t have to use the red and green boxes provided by Parkland Ambulance – they can build their own. They are, however, being asked to use a shoebox-sized box.

Donors have until Nov. 22 to drop of their box. Online, the boxes can be ordered up until Dec. 1.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames