With Christmas just around the corner, it’s the time of year to help those less fortunate — and the Operation Christmas Child “shoeboxes” are a good place to start.
Every year, Grace Christian Fellowship collects boxes for the Samaritan’s Purse initiative, which distributes school supplies, hygiene items and toys around the world. Just over 200 were shipped from Creston last year, and the program continues to be popular.
“A couple of people are already asking,” said Pastor Stephen Schneider, who organizes the program with his wife, Carmen.
“Some people will pack 10 or 15 boxes,” said Carmen.
The 205 shipped from Creston were among 700,000 sent from Canada last year. Shoeboxes for about 11 million children in 13 countries are expected this year, from the U.S.A., Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Spain and the U.K. Western Canada’s boxes will go to Haiti, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Nepal and Ukraine.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has sent more than 124 million gift shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories, partnering with their local churches for distribution.
In Creston, boxes are available at Your Dollar Store with More, Extra Foods (after Thanksgiving) and churches. Following the instructions provided, they can be filled and returned to Grace Christian Fellowship (2416 Cedar St.) until Nov. 19, or dropped off at Pop Shoes the week of Nov. 12-19.
Adults aren’t the only ones packing the boxes — young people are getting in on it too, with Adam Robertson Elementary School and Prince Charles Secondary School sending home boxes.
“It’s important for people to pack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes because they’re showing love to other countries,” said Carmen.
