NEWS RELEASE
OPERATION CHRISTMAS
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Canada’s 2019 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season is underway, as thousands of individuals, families, churches, businesses, sports teams, and community groups begin packing shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, plus personal notes and photos.
Operation Christmas Child is an annual initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization that works in more than 100 countries.
Thanks to all the items that Canadians lovingly put in their shoeboxes, and the $10-per-box they donate to cover shipping and other program costs, Samaritan’s Purse is able to deliver the boxes to children around the world living in the midst of poverty, disease, war, and natural disaster.
Last year, Canadians filled more than 517,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared God’s love and hope with struggling children in West Africa and Central America. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 167 million shoebox gifts in over 100 countries.
“Every shoebox packed by Canadians enables us to offer hope and joy to children in some of the most impoverished parts of the world,” said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child. “Please consider packing just one more box to increase the impact you and Operation Christmas Child will have this season.”
Shoeboxes are given as unconditional gifts regardless of the child’s race, religion, or gender. When given, they often open doors for Samaritan’s Purse to work with community leaders in identifying and addressing important needs such as clean water, literacy, vocational training for women, school meals for children, etc.
National Shoebox Collection Week is Nov. 18-24: Each gift-filled shoebox packed, donated, and delivered to one of hundreds of collection centers throughout Canada by Nov. 24 will make a long journey into the arms of a child in need. People can also pack boxes online at PackABox.ca.
About Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ’s biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Like that Good Samaritan, who found a beaten man and helped restore him, we aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. Besides Operation Christmas Child, our work includes providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world. Visit SamaritansPurse.ca for more information.
Here are the Operation Christmas child shoebox drop-off location in Barrie and Collingwood:
Ferris Lane Community Church, 49 Ferris Lane, Barrie
November 18 6:00pm - 9:00pm
November 19 6:00pm - 9:00pm
November 20 6:00pm - 9:00pm
November 21 6:00pm - 9:00pm
November 22 6:00pm - 9:00pm
November 23-24 CLOSED
Hi-Way Pentecostal Church, 50 Anne St. N., Barrie
November 18 9:15am - 5:00pm
November 19 9:15am - 5:00pm
November 20 9:15am - 7:30pm
November 21 9:15am - 5:00pm
November 22 9:15am - 5:00pm
November 23-24 CLOSED
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 374 Salem Rd., Barrie
November 18 10:00am - 1:00pm
November 19 1:00pm - 4:00pm
November 20 CLOSED
November 21 5:00pm - 8:00pm
November 22 1:00pm - 4:00pm
November 23 10:00am - 1:00pm
November 24 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Collingwood Home Hardware Building Centre, 104 High St.
November 18 7:00am - 8:00pm
November 19 7:00am - 8:00pm
November 20 7:00am - 8:00pm
November 21 7:00am - 8:00pm
November 22 7:00am - 8:00pm
November 23 8:00am - 6:00pm
November 24 9:00am - 5:00pm
Journey Community Church, 30 Mountain Rd., Collingwood
November 18 8:00am - 4:00pm
November 19 8:00am - 4:00pm
November 20 8:00am - 4:00pm
November 21 8:00am - 4:00pm
November 22 8:00am - 4:00pm
November 23 8:00am - 4:00pm
November 24 CLOSED
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