Local communities partner with Samaritan’s Purse for over two decades

Since 1997, the residents of Glenboro and neighbouring communities have partnered with Samaritan’s Purse, a global relief organization, to bring hope to children in need around the world through Operation Christmas Child. What began as a humble effort by the Glenboro Bible Chapel’s women’s group has grown into a cherished annual tradition, involving hundreds of community members and nearby schools.

In their first year, the group packed and sent just seven shoeboxes, each filled with small gifts and necessities for children in need. Though the numbers were humble, the group recognized the profound impact of their efforts. “The shoeboxes weren’t just about Christmas gifts; they were packed with hope,” Betty Berry shared. “These children, of whom have so little, get to experience joy and receive something just for them.”

Along with the gifts, each shoebox includes a Christmas storybook called “The Greatest Gift,” which Betty described as a key element of the project. “The storybook teaches the children that God is always with them and that he will provide,” she explained. Additionally, each child who receives a shoebox is given the opportunity to participate in “The Greatest Journey,” a follow-up discipleship program that helps them explore faith and hope in a deeper way.

Betty shared a particularly heartwarming story about a young recipient whose life was profoundly changed by the gift of shoes she received in her shoebox. Unable to attend school due to her worn-out shoes, the simple yet thoughtful gift allowed her to continue her education. She has since moved to the United States, a testament to how small acts of kindness can transform lives.

Throughout the past two decades the word spread and participation grew, the initiative picked up momentum. Over the years, the community’s involvement in packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child has soared. Last year, 475 shoe boxes were packed and each year the community strives either meet or do better than perviously.

“It started as a personal way to give back,” Betty shares, “I wanted each shoebox to represent one of my family members, a way for them to be part of something bigger, even if they didn’t pack the box themselves.”

Angela Martens (of Baldur) story echoes a similar sentiment, explaining how the project became an annual family tradition. Her first year’s goal was to make 12 boxes, one for each family member, however once she shared what she was doing with her friends and family, she ended up making 80 boxes her first year and has more than doubled that number the following years.

There are several ways to participate in gifting the shoeboxes. Shoeboxes can be picked up at local businesses or service clubs and filled individually. Alternatively, Betty Berry and Angela Martens offer a service where they will pack a box for you at a cost of $30, which includes all the items as well as the $12 shipping fee. You could also go online to Samaritan’s Purse and order a shoebox, filling it virtually with items available on the site, and it will be packed and shipped on your behalf.

The shoeboxes cater to different age groups and genders, and the website offers specific examples of suitable items for each category. Additionally, they recommend including a personal note and a photo, which brings extra delight to the child receiving the box. Each shoe box comes with a pamphlet giving instructions and examples of what to and what not to include, where and when to drop off and a label with the age and gender checked off and attached to each box for shipping.

It was easily conveyed by Betty and Angela that filling the boxes and the imagination required to find gifts that will not only fit, but cover something special and personal, useful and practical is challenging but also exciting and fun.

November 18-24th is National Collection Week. All the packed shoe boxes are dropped off at the Glenboro Bible Chapel then delivered to Brandon where they are all shipped to Calgary. Once in Calgary, each box is opened and the “Greatest Gift” story book is added in and inspected then sent to Customs.

Through this partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, Glenboro and surrounding communities have had a lasting impact, not only in providing physical gifts to children in need but in spreading a message of hope and compassion across the globe. Each shoebox represents the care and love of the community, sent to children who may never have experienced a Christmas gift before. Last year over 11,000,000 shoeboxes were gifted to less fortunate children around the world, each child will only ever receive one gift box in their lifetime.

With the continued support of local residents, the Operation Christmas Child initiative shows no signs of slowing down as more people come together each year to fill shoeboxes with joy and hope! Whether you pack a shoebox on behalf of a loved one, purchase one, or sponsor a box online, each contribution represents a child whose holiday will be brightened with joy and hope. As National Collection Week approaches from November 18-24, now is the perfect time to get involved and make a lasting difference.

PHOTO CAPTION: The original seven boxes in the first year has grown to 475 boxes sent in 2023. PHOTO SUBMITTED