Until Nov. 24, the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC) will be a collection point for contributions for Operation Christmas Child, an initiative that provides vulnerable children worldwide with gift-filled shoeboxes.
The initiative is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian group that provides support to people in desperate situations around the world. The Operation Christmas Child program, which the organization took over in 1993, is geared specifically towards providing children with joy.
The project can involve participants of all ages. All that is needed is a shoebox, which can be packed for a boy or a girl, in the age categories of two to four years, five to nine years, or 10-14 years.
Contributors are asked to fill shoeboxes with a mix of toys, hygiene products, school supplies and a personal note. When appropriate, the boxes will also include a booklet — called The Greatest Gift of All — which explains the message of the salvation of Jesus Christ in the child’s own language.
In addition, a donation of $7 per shoebox is required to help cover project costs and shipping. Cash or cheques can be included in the shoebox, or donations can be made online with a credit card at samaritanspurse.ca.
Since 1993, more than 103 million shoeboxes have been collected and distributed worldwide. In 2012, more than 660,000 shoeboxes were collected in Canada alone.
Shoeboxes can be dropped off at the front desk of the SLS Centre until Nov. 24.
For more details on Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.ca.
