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What do tiny mountain
Andean villages and windswept desert communities have in common with
urban and rural Canada?
They have all experienced the power of a simple gift.
Once again this year, Operation Christmas
Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, is
partnering with Canadians to bring hope to children all over the
world.
Currently, thousands of individuals, churches,
businesses and community groups across Canada are packing empty shoe
boxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items which will be sent to
needy children in South and Central America and West Africa.
Since 1993, individuals, groups and churches in 11
participating countries have donated more than 61 million shoe boxes,
and Operation Christmas Child has delivered the gifts to children in 138
nations. Last year, Canadians donated 661,530 of the 7.6 million
gift-filled shoe boxes collected worldwide.
Operation Christmas Child began on October 10, 1990,
when Dave and Jill Cooke of Wrexham, Wales were watching a television
broadcast about Romanian orphanages.
The Cookes asked this question: how can we help the
real victims, the children, who live in these situations day after day?
They realized they could offer something – the gift of love.
Together, they filled a convoy of nine trucks with medical supplies, food,
clothing and Christmas gifts for children, and drove into Romania. This
marked the beginning of the world’s largest children’s
Christmas program.
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In 1993, Franklin Graham, International President of
Samaritan’s Purse, adopted Operation Christmas Child.
Collection week is November 24 – 29. For details
of drop off points:
www.samaritanspurse.ca/occ/shoebox
– PB
November 2008
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