This year, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians packed 413,875 shoeboxes during the annual Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign. The initiative created by Samaritan’s Purse saw some of the local shoeboxes delivered to children in El Salvador.
In Strathmore, 682 boxes were prepared. Alberta residents packed 80,121 shoeboxes in 2021, which is an increase of seven per cent from 2020’s total of 74,791. The regional breakdown follows:
Calgary: 17,681. Cochrane: 512. Airdrie: 2,196. High River: 787. Okotoks: 1,908. Strathmore: 682. Crossfield: 689.
The distribution of shoeboxes around the world has already begun. During the next few weeks, children in Central America and western Africa will be receiving shoeboxes packed by caring Canadians.
“In a year filled with uncertainty, we praise God for the opportunity to continue reaching children around the world with gift-filled shoeboxes that bring so much joy,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse.
The 413,875 boxes donated in 2021—including tens of thousands of boxes packed online at PackaBox.ca—were part of a worldwide total of 10.5 million collected in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Finland, South Korea, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Alberta residents still have the opportunity to take part in Operation Christmas Child and to pack shoeboxes when they visit www.PackaBox.ca
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand-delivered almost 200 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 170 countries hurt by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease, and famine.
Thu, Apr 25, 4:30 PM
