Operation Christmas Child is a charitable program providing children in need with a shoebox containing fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items.
Mary Willis, a volunteer with Victory Church in Moose Jaw, has seen the impact first-hand. “I was able to go down to Costa Rica and Ecuador and see these boxes handed out, and that’s what has me 100 per cent (committed to) the program now.
“Operation Christmas Child is run by Samaritan’s Purse,” explained Willis. “Wherever there’s a little bit of poverty or unsettlement on the four corners of the earth, we try to reach out and give kids a little bit of joy.”
The boxes are organized for boys and girls and placed into three age categories: two- to four-year-olds, five- to nine-year-olds, and then 10- to 14-year-olds.
To source gifts, volunteers shop throughout the year and are always accepting donations. “Right now, I’m at the dollar store… and I have my cart full of baby dolls,” Willis said.
Approved gifts are then laid out and volunteers assemble the shoeboxes.
“Everything is pre-approved before it even goes on the table. If it’s a second-hand gift, (we ensure that) it’s like a brand-new second-hand gift,” said Willis. “This could be the only gift that child gets, so we make sure it’s the very best.”
One table is set up for school supplies. “Kids can’t go to school unless they have school supplies in a lot of countries,” she explained.
Willis said the boxes are generously packed with as many gifts as will fit. “We don’t pack air.”
Gifts don’t contain anything breakable such as a glass snow globe, and since a lot of these children live in war-torn countries, anything with a military theme is not included. “Even a camo shirt, we don’t put (one in). A child could be mistaken for a child soldier,” she warned.
“Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries has been gracious enough to let me use their building for the length of time that we need it,” said Willis. Twin Lakes Ranch has been a long-time supporter of Operation Christmas Child and Willis said they’ve helped Victory Church many times before.
The shoeboxes will be sent to Regina and flown to Calgary. Once at Calgary, volunteers will give them an additional quality control check, and a destination is chosen by Samaritan’s Purse based on current need.
“These kids that we were (visiting) had never been given a gift before. They had no idea what this was, and they had no idea how to open the box,” Willis said when recalling her first-hand experience.
She said volunteers had to explain a few of the items.
“They’ve never had a bar of soap before. They were tasting it because they didn’t know what it was. We had to get a translator tell them it’s soap that you wash with.
“They learn how to brush their teeth at school, but they don’t get a toothbrush,” she added. “One kid… was sharing his toothbrush with 20 other kids in the orphanage.”
Even something as simple as a pencil can make a world of difference. Willis observed a teacher having to break a pencil into seven smaller nubs so more children could study, and in another instance a mother had to rent a pencil so her children could attend school.
“We were washing their little feet before we gave them… shoes. They were walking on flip-flops made of crushed pop bottles,” she explained. “It’s a real thing.
“We take so much for granted here in Canada. We complain about the prices going up and what-not, but you can’t even imagine a family not being able to buy pencils for the kids.”
As part of the gift package, children are encouraged to explore the Christian message through an optional Bible study program offered by Samaritan’s Purse.
“(In) The Greatest Adventure, they learn what Jesus is about. It’s very simplified, but it’s important for kids to know that there’s somewhere they can go to for help when the world seems to be turning upside down in front of them,” she said.
Willis is currently looking for volunteers to help prepare shoeboxes.
Volunteers can come for the entire day or just a few hours. If you require transportation, Willis said she’s willing to pick you up and drop you off at home when you’re done.
Homemade items are also accepted if they meet the guidelines. “One lady made 250 prayer pockets out of jean pockets. We’ve got another lady who made over 100 toques,” she said. “People can participate in lots of different ways.”
Willis said the goal for this year is to double the roughly 1000 boxes packed in 2022 and prepare 2000 shoeboxes. “It will be what God lets us do,” she said.
The shoebox packing parties are scheduled for Nov. 1 from 1 to 8 p.m., and Nov. 2, 3, and 4 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To help donate gifts or the gift of your time, Willis can be reached at 306-630-2581.
Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries is located north of the Trans Canada Highway and approximately one kilometre east of the Battle Creek Adventure Park, or about 20 kilometres (15 minutes) east of Moose Jaw.
For more information on Samaritan's Purse, visit SamaritansPurse.ca.
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