National Collection Week — when all boxes are to be at drop-off locations—is Nov. 14-20

Canada’s 2022 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season is 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 413,000 shoeboxes with gifts that shared God’s love and hope with struggling children in West Africa and Central America. As the world struggles to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19, children in these regions (plus those in war-torn Ukraine, who will receive Canadian shoeboxes this year) need 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 almost 200 million shoebox gifts in more than 100 countries.

“It seems the world’s greatest need over the past few years has been hope,” said Kendra Shields, acting director of Operation Christmas Child. “This is the essence of Operation Christmas Child. Every shoebox gift is an opportunity for a child to learn that he or she matters to Canadians and most importantly, matters to God. That’s why I urge everyone to help as many children in need as possible by packing shoeboxes.”

National Shoebox Collection Week is Nov. 14-20: Each gift-filled shoebox packed, donated, and delivered to one of hundreds of drop-off locations throughout Canada by Nov. 20 will make a long journey into the arms of a child in need. Canadians can also pack boxes online at PackABox.ca.

These locations *might* have empty shoeboxes that people can pick up, but there is no guarantee. Readers can use their own shoeboxes, or buy clear plastic boxes and fill them.

Shoebox drop-off locations:

Cornerstone Ministries Canada
137-4026 Meadow Brook Dr
London, Ontario N6L 1C9
Contact: MaryAnn Williamson
519-319-6106
November 14 - 20, 2022
Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat. 10:00am - 1:00pm
Tues. 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Thur. / Sun. CLOSED

Living Hope Community Church
80 Curtis St
St Thomas, Ontario N5P 1J2
Contact: Mary Lou Bartlett
519-207-1336
November 14 - 20, 2022
Mon., Wed., 9:00am - 12:00pm
Tues., Thur., Fri. 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Sat., Sun. CLOSED

Tillsonburg Alliance Church
270 Quarter Town Line
Tillsonburg, Ontario N4G 4G8
Contact: Abby Malott
519-872-0108
November 14 - 20, 2022
Mon – Fri. 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Sat. 9:00am - 12:00pm
Sun. 9:00am - 11:00am

When children in need receive their Canadian shoeboxes, Samaritan’s Purse will proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in three ways:

1. When it is culturally appropriate, we present the Gospel to all children at shoebox distribution events. Many parents or guardians attend these events and also hear the Good News.

2. We offer children The Greatest Gift, a colourful storybook that shares the message of salvation. The booklet (available in more than 80 languages) shares 11 Scripture stories and invites children to follow Christ. Shoebox recipients can take The Greatest Gift home to share with family and friends.

3. When possible, we invite each child who received a shoebox to participate in The Greatest Journey, our 12-lesson evangelism and discipleship program. After finishing The Greatest Journey, children attend a graduation celebration where we give them a certificate and a New Testament in their language. It is often the first copy of God’s Word the child or their family have ever owned.

We praise God that during the last 10 years, He has used The Greatest Journey to bring more than 11 million children to faith in His Son. In many cases, God works through these children to bring their parents and siblings to faith in Christ.

About Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ’s biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Like that Good Samaritan, who found a beaten man and helped restore him, we aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. Besides Operation Christmas Child, our work includes providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world. Visit SamaritansPurse.ca for more information.