The Operation Christmas Child committee of Parksville recently launched its shoebox campaign at Red Apple Store in Wembley Mall.
Committee members Ingrid Sly and Joan van Schaik were on hand to promote the distribution of shoeboxes.
Operation Christmas Child is a charitable Christian organization that sends shoeboxes filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to children in developing countries.
Those wishing to fill a shoebox with gifts, you can pick up a box at Red Apple, Fields, Stedmans, Lucky Loonies, Loonyrama, Nanoose Pharmacy, Bayview Dental in Qualicum, Lighthouse Gift Shop in Bowser and at many churches in the PQB area.
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You can pack the boxes with small toys, school supplies, T-shirts, socks and hygiene items. Once packed, the boxes can be brought to Parksville Baptist Church at 550 Pym St. during collection week, which is Monday to Friday, Nov. 15-19 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20-21 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Operation Christmas Child has been run by Samaritan’s Purse since 1993. Since then, more than 188 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
In 2021, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 9.7 million children. The boxes from Canada will go to Central American and West African countries.
— NEWS Staff