Red Deer residents packed more than 2,000 shoeboxes for children in need last Christmas.
Samaritan’s Purse reported that kids from Costa Rica to Senegal enjoyed checking out their Canadian packed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes that were stuffed with toys, toothbrushes, crayons and other gifts.
Despite challenges posed by COVID-19, Canadians packed 373,188 shoeboxes with hygiene items and school supplies during the 2020 Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign that recently ended.
Frank King, media relations manager for Samaritan’s Purse, said Alberta residents packed a total of 74,791 shoeboxes in 2020. Of these, Red Deerians contributed 2,249 shoeboxes — which were greatly appreciated by children around the world.
“Given the tremendous pandemic challenges all of us faced in 2020, we are extremely thankful to Canadians – many of whom are unemployed or facing economic uncertainty – for their generosity in continuing to support this program,” said Randy Crosson, director of Operation Christmas Child Canada.
For more information about the the year-round shoebox packing campaign, visit PackaBox.ca. For more information about the charity, visit SamaritansPurse.ca.
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