Canada’s 2020 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season is officially underway.

Individuals, families, churches, businesses, sports teams, and community groups are now packing shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, plus personal notes and photos, to be delivered to children in need around the world.

Operation Christmas Child is an annual initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization that works in more than 100 countries. Last year, Canadians filled more than 490,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared God’s love and hope with struggling children in West Africa and Central America. In this unprecedented year, children need great joy more than ever.

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.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 177 million shoebox gifts in over 100 countries.

“Every shoebox gift is an opportunity to share God’s love with so many searching for hope,” said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child. “These simple gifts are a tangible way to remind children that they are not alone or forgotten.”

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. 16-22: Each gift-filled shoebox packed, donated, and delivered to one of the hundreds of collection centers throughout Canada by Nov. 22 will make a long journey into the arms of a child in need.

Another great option is to pack boxes online at PackABox.ca.

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