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Collingwood residents pack more than 1,500 shoeboxes for kids

Shoeboxes sent to children in Ukraine, Philippines, Central America, Western Africa
2023-02-02-operation-christmas-child
Children in Costa Rica are shown with their Canadian-packed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

People in Collingwood packed 1,522 shoeboxes as part of the 2022 Operation Christmas Child campaign by Samaritan’s Purse.

That contributed to a provincial and national increase over the 2021 campaign, which saw 151,788 shoeboxes packed in Ontario (149,647 in 2021) and 415,072 packed in Canada.

The shoeboxes, containing toys, hygiene items, school supplies and other items, are being distributed to children in Ukraine, the Philippines, Central America and Western Africa.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of Canadians,” Kendra Shields, director of Operation Christmas Child, said in a news release. “These gift-filled shoeboxes are a tangible expression of God’s love and will provide joy and hope to children, many of whom have never received a gift before.”

Residents can still pack shoeboxes, virtually, for children in need here.

More information about Samaritan’s Purse can be found here.