Operation Christmas Child is upon Drumheller, with over 500 shoeboxes ready to be stuffed with invaluable toys and products to be distributed to over a dozen countries globally.
“When you see how it helps children, see how happy it makes them, it’s very motivating,” says co-coordinator Vivian Bertsch.
Empty shoeboxes can be picked up at the Co-op, IGA, and Drumheller Alliance Church. There are about 50 shoeboxes left, after the rest of the boxes were distributed to DCHS, St. Anthony’s, and Greentree schools.
Drumheller has been participating in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child for over 15 years. Last year, 520 boxes were shipped out of Drumheller.
This year’s collection of Canadian filled boxes will be sent to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Cote D’Ivorie, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
Hi-Way 9 Express has agreed to truck the shoeboxes to Calgary, after they are gathered on November 21.
Drop-off for filled shoeboxes will be at the Drumheller Alliance Church, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, and 12 - 7 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the Sunday.