Children in Costa Rica open their Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
Canada’s 2023 Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection season and groups across the nation, including Medicine Hat, 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, and last year, Canadians filled more than 415,000 shoeboxes with gifts and items for struggling children in West Africa, Central America, Ukraine and Philippines.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed more than 200 million shoebox gifts in more than 100 countries.
“Struggling children and families need hope,” Kendra Shields, director of Operation Christmas Child said in a release. “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 want everyone to help as many children in need as possible by packing shoeboxes.”
National Shoebox collection week is Nov. 13-19. The following Medicine Hat locations may have empty shoeboxes ready for packing, but any shoebox-sized boxes (cardboard or plastic) can be used for Operation Christmas Child.
Too order free shoeboxes and promotional materials, visit SamaritansPurse.ca/OCC and follow the directions. Order deadline is Friday.
Medicine Hat shoebox drop-off locations
Hillcrest Evangelical Missionary Church
3785 13th Ave. SE
Medicine Hat
Nov. 13-19
Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
First Assembly of God
395 Ninth St. SE
Medicine Hat
Nov. 13-19
Monday, 9 a.m. to noon, 1-6 p.m.
Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon, 1-4 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. to noon, 1-4 p.m.
Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, 1-4 p.m.
Friday, 4-7 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon, 1-3 p.m.
Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to noon, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
