INNISFAIL – The final totals for Samaritan’s Purse’s 2023 Operation Christmas Child have finally been released.
And both Innisfail and the Province of Alberta had stunning results.
Alberta residents packed 88,639 shoeboxes in 2023, a jump of more than 8,500 from 2021 when 80,121 was recorded.
And Innisfail specifically had an 80 per jump. In 2022, 126 shoeboxes were filled by Innisfailians. That figure increased to 227 in 2023.
“We are seeing a steady increase in Albertans’ ability to help give hope and joy to children around the world, and we are seeing many people work together in places like Innisfail,” said Sam Christensen, Operation Christmas Child’s regional manager for Alberta.
Christensen organization’s organization released its 2023 campaign totals on Feb. 1.
“We are grateful that compassion has moved Innisfail residents to partner with us in multiple ways - becoming a year-round Operation Christmas Child volunteer, volunteering at the Calgary processing centre, and packing gift-filled shoeboxes,” said Christensen.
“Together, we can and are accomplishing big things.”
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, has collected and delivered 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
The goal is to bring joy to each child in need. Each shoebox is filled with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items.
In 2023, Operation Christmas Child collected 11,300,126 gift-filled shoeboxes globally. Of that total 425,209 were packed in Canada.
“We are thrilled to see the enthusiastic participation of Canadians in Operation Christmas Child,” said Kendra Shields, Operation Christmas Child’s Canadian director. “It is very encouraging to know that so many generous people want to give hope and joy to children in need around the world.”
Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian organization that aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. The organizations other initiatives include providing safe water, literacy skills, vocational training and more for people in the developing world.
