Canadians can bless impoverished children with Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts

National Collection Week—when everyone's boxes are to be at Collection Centers—is November 16-22

CALGARY, Oct. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canada-wide 2015 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season—an annual initiative of Samaritan's Purse Canada—starts today 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.

Thanks to $7 donations from generous Operation Christmas Child supporters, Samaritan's Purse is able to deliver the gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world living in the midst of poverty, disease, war, and natural disaster.

Last year, Canadians filled more than 700,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared God's love and hope with children in the developing world. And since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 124 million shoebox gifts around the globe.

"It's my hope and prayer that Canadians from coast to coast will join us again this year in packing and donating gift-filled shoeboxes," said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child. "Every shoebox is a powerful reminder to children living in some of our world's most desperate situations that they haven't been forgotten by Canadians or by God."

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 local community leaders in identifying and addressing other needs, such as clean water, literacy and vocational training for women, school meals for children, etc.

National Shoebox Collection Week is Nov. 16-22: Each gift-filled shoebox packed, donated, and delivered to one of hundreds of collection centers throughout Canada by Nov. 22 will make a long journey into the arms of a needy child in Haiti, Latin America, or West Africa.

Media Resources: Operation Christmas Child radio, TV and general media kits can be found here. Please note: due to customs regulations, all food, including candy, is no longer allowed in shoeboxes.

To learn more, visit SamaritansPurse.ca/OCC.

About Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse is a Christian relief and development organization that provides physical and spiritual aid to hurting people worldwide. For two decades, one of our most important initiatives has been Operation Christmas Child. Other major Samaritan's Purse projects include life-saving BioSand Water Filters, plus new and larger versions specifically designed for schools. Visit our website at SamaritansPurse.ca.

SOURCE Samaritan's Purse Canada

For further information: News Media: To interview a local, national, or international representative of Operation Christmas Child, to obtain information about upcoming shoebox events, or to locate the nearest shoebox drop-off location, please contact: Frank King, Communications Manager, Samaritan's Purse Canada, 1.800.303.1269 or cell: 403-990-0161, [email protected]