A campaign that aims to help kids in third world countries by filling shoebox-sized containers for Christmas began a donation drive in 91原创 on Sunday, Oct 15, with 91原创 realtor Michelle Perreault accepting donations for Operation Christmas Child at her Stonehaus Realty Corp. offices.
鈥淲e had quite a few donations,鈥� Perreault reported.
鈥淎 couple of our business partners, like Van City, came in with a bunch of donations and and people in the community. For the first time, it was good.鈥�
Operation Christmas Child is collecting donations until 6 p.m. Sunday in 91原创 at 103 - 20353 64th Avenue at Stonehaus Realty Corp. Small items, no liquids or candies, please. Donors can also pick up shoeboxes to fill and drop off later.
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Perreault plans to hold a second event in November, and in the meantime, anyone who wants to make a contribution can drop by Stonehaus at at 103 - 20353 64th Avenue during regular business hours to drop off contributions or pick up a donation box.
鈥淲e鈥檒l continue to do it, because we think it鈥檚 so really amazing,鈥� Perreault enthused.
鈥淎 couple of people who were just walking by, who knew nothing about what we were, chatted with us and gave cash donations and hung out and had a free hot chocolate. It was a lot of fun.鈥�
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Operation Christmas Child is an initiative of Samaritan鈥檚 Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian international relief organization.
It started in 1993 in response to a request to help children in war-torn Bosnia by filling shoeboxes. Over the years, more than 209 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
鈥淵ou can pick a gender, and then a certain age group that you want it sort of geared towards, and then customize the shoe boxes toward whatever sort of demographic that you鈥檇 like to reach out to,鈥� Perreault explained.
Small items, like school supplies and toys, are suggested, but no liquids or candies.
More details can be found at .
Perreault, who has been involved as a community volunteer for 12 years 鈥渙riginally found out about the organization through Save-On-Foods, [who] used to distribute the shoeboxes鈥� she explained.
鈥淚 was really interested in learning more about it and then reached out to the main office, and then became a year-round volunteer.鈥�
