Operation Christmas Child

The calendar might read October but Christmas is just around the corner. If your office, school, church, family or friends on the block might want to plan something different for Christmas, here’s a suggestion.

Operation Christmas Child is a project happening right now in our community. Operation Christmas Child provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on project of Samaritan's Purse that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas – Jesus Christ – God's greatest gift. Operation Christmas Child was started in 1990. In 1993, Operation Christmas Child grew and was adopted by Samaritan's Purse, a Christian organization run by Franklin Graham. To date, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed over 94 million shoe box gifts worldwide. Each shoe box gift is filled with hygiene items, school supplies, toys, and candy, is given to children regardless of gender, race, religion, or age.

How can you get involved? It’s really easy, call 953-8358 and request some shoe boxes. Parkland Ambulance Care is the local collection center. We will provide you with as many boxes as you want plus posters and brochures. You pack the box and they bring it back to us. Some folks also choose to use their own containers or boxes. That’s okay too!

Fill your shoe box with a well-balanced variety of items from the following categories:

• School Supplies – Items such as pencils, pens, pencil crayons, note pads, and picture books
• Toys & Other Gifts – Items such as stuffed animals, small musical instruments, hair clips, toy jewelry, t-shirts, socks, and candy (loose, individually wrapped hard candy in a sealable bag)
• Hygiene Items – Please place soap in a sealable bag
• Personal Note – Include a personal note and/or a photo in your shoe box (not inside the donation envelope)

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DO NOT INCLUDE:

• Toothpaste (due to customs regulations)
• Food and any chewy, crumbly, or soft candy: Including gum (due to customs regulations)
• Used items (due to customs regulations)
• Playing cards (other card games such as UNO are allowed)
• Liquids or items that could leak, melt, freeze, or break – Shampoo, creams, lip balm, bath gels, mirrors, or glass, etc. (these can damage other items in the shoe box).Items that can scare or harm a child – War-related toys, knives, and toy guns, etc.
• Using a backpack instead of a shoe box is problematic because it creates unfair circumstances at distribution events. Backpacks can also cause problems when cartons are being packed, and when shipments are going through Customs.

You can also pack a box on-line. From the comfort of your computer just follow the links from this web address http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/operation-christmas-child/ and you are set. Operation Christmas Child is one of many projects designed to help others during the holiday season. National Collection week is November 19-25, 2012. Please drop off your boxes at Parkland Ambulance Care – 555-13th Street East, during that week.