The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Once again, Canadians are helping to bring Christmas joy to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child. This wonderful program is also being organized locally, so that anyone in this area can reach out to an impoverished child this Christmas. Last year, people across Canada packed nearly 740,000 gift-filled shoe boxes that were delivered to children in over 95 countries where conflict, poverty, famine and war are a part of life. Since this Samaritan's Purse program began 11 years ago, Operation Christmas Child has distributed more than 24 million gift boxes The use of shoe boxes encourages Canadian children to look beyond their own Christmas wish list to the needy children around the world, many of whom have never received a Christmas gift. Through simple shoe boxes packed with small toys, hard candy, hygiene items, school supplies, family photos and even handwritten notes, the lives of millions of children are brightened each Christmas. In the local area, shoe boxes filled with gifts can be dropped off at the First Baptist Church on Channing Drive next week. Drop-off times are: Wednesday, Nov. 12 through Friday, Nov. 14 from 6: p.m. to 9 p.m. Also, on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. There will be a video presentation on Sunday. Pharmasave will also accept boxes during regular store hours. If you want to participate in this worthy cause, here are a few tips: don't include any war-like toys or chocolate (it melts); clearly mark your box with "Operation Christmas Child" and mark it for either a boy or girl, in age groups of 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14 wrap items like shampoo or lotion well, so if it breaks or leaks it doesn't harm the other items. use an elastic band or ribbon to close your box (it has to be reopened before sending) if possible, enclose $5 in an envelope to help with shipping. For further information, or boxes, call 687-4123 or 687-0003 (leave a message for Heather).
