The pandemic isn’t stopping Operation Christmas Child from delivering joy to kids around the world.
The Comox Valley campaign is underway, and local coordinator Jacqui Graham points out that the timeline is short.
All shoe boxes must be brought to the collection centre at Comox Pentecostal Church from Nov. 18th to 21st.
Graham is spreading the word that yes, it’s happening this year, and yes, you can pack shoe boxes with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies and drop them off at the collection site
Once the shoeboxes leave the valley they are shipped to the national processing centre in Calgary, where each one is inspected and prepared for travel to its destination country.
Last year, nearly half a million shoe boxes went to children in more than 100 countries.
Samaritan’s Purse, the nonprofit organization that distributes the shoeboxes to struggling children in the developing world, has been working with communities and churches across Canada to ensure that all protocols are in place for safe shoebox distribution and collection.
Graham says you can also virtually fill a shoebox through the “Pack A Box” option on the Operation Christmas Child website.
Donors specify the gender and age range of a child and select items from the online store.
Samaritan’s Purse will pack the box and send it off.
In the Comox Valley you will find the little red and green shoeboxes at
- Quality Foods in Courtenay and Comox;
- John’s Independent Grocers in Comox; and
- Your Dollar Store With More and John’s Bedroom Barn and in Courtenay.
To learn how to fill a shoebox or “Pack A Box” online, plus the local drop-off location, dates and hours, click here.
Check the “Operation Christmas Child Comox Valley” Facebook group for videos, shoebox-packing suggestions, and up-to-date news.
