A global pandemic won’t stop shoeboxes from travelling across the world to bring joy to children facing adversity.
Samaritan’s Purse is running its Operation Christmas Child program once again in 2020, providing boxes filled with school supplies, toiletries and small fun gifts for children in need in various countries.
Lisa Branch, local logistics co-ordinator for Operation Christmas Child, said it’s important during a strange year to still show support and bring a smile to children’s faces. The boxes have a greater impact than most people realize, she said.
“Each box gives them hope, gives them hope somebody cares, gives them hope they are valued, that they’re special, that life is worth living no matter what their circumstances, and that they’re thought of,” said Branch, who has participated in delivery mission trips to hand out shoeboxes to children.
She said the looks on children’s faces when they understand someone they’ve never met has taken the time to pack a box full of gifts for them is incredible to witness. The children who receive shoeboxes are generally excited about their contents, showing them to friends and comparing gifts.
There are also some quieter children, who smile to themselves as they take in the items in their shoebox.
“Some of them just could not connect emotionally,” said Branch. “It was interesting to be able to sit down with the quiet ones and just engage in a different way.”
The children who receive shoeboxes are coming from difficult situations and the gifts make a great impact on them, she said.
“These kids come from desperate situations,” said Branch. “Sometimes they’ve delivered boxes to kids who have gone through war, who have gone through poverty, famine, they’re living in areas where there’s a lot of domestic violence. Just things we don’t even know about or have experienced, or really understand.”
As someone who has packed boxes for years, Branch said she also got ideas for future gifts by watching children unpack their shoeboxes, seeing what other people from across the globe had included in their packages or how they had it in certain items.
Her items tend to be on the more practical side – school supplies and personal hygiene items – so she said it was inspiring to see the way people made those items fun when packing their boxes.
While things like pens, notebooks, pencils and erasers, solar-powered calculators, soap, toothbrushes, or socks make great practical gifts, she said it’s also important to include what they refer to as the “wow” gift.
“It’s a balance between practical and fun,” said Branch. “It’s a gift for the kids, so having something in there that is a toy, a plush toy or small ball, something that can fit into the shoebox and bring joy to the kids.”
There are certain items not permitted in the boxes, such as liquids – no toothpaste, lotion, snow globes, or similar items, she said. Candy is also not allowed.
She said the Samaritan’s Purse website provides lists of ideas for packing into boxes for different age groups for those who need a little inspiration.
The site also provides an online packing option, which Branch said might be a popular choice this year in light of COVID-19.
“They have everything listed so you can see what will go into your box, and then you can personalize it,” said Branch. “You can choose if you want to add a hairbrush, a calculator, a stuffy, sunglasses – so you can still get that ‘wow’ gift.”
Those who choose to pack a box online also have the option to still include a personal letter and photo, which can be uploaded with the order. Shoebox orders are then forwarded to a warehouse, which is able to purchase common items in bulk, and volunteers pack the boxes according to online submissions and will include any letters or pictures as well, she said.
For those who like to pack their own items, empty shoeboxes can be found at Dit ‘n’ Dat in Okotoks, as well as High River Baptist Church, Okotoks Evangelical Free Church and the Black Diamond Gospel Chapel.
National collection week is Nov. 16-22 and local shoeboxes will be dropped off at the Okotoks E-Free church before being sent to the warehouse, she said.
For more information about Operation Christmas Child or packing shoeboxes visit www.samaritanspurse.ca, or to volunteer locally call Branch at 403-931-0481.
