Every year, families around Canada, including Airdrie, pack shoe boxes with gifts to send to children around the world as part of Operation Christmas Child.

This year, Airdrie had four collection centres. Collection day for most of the centres was this past Sunday (November 19).

Airdrie Alliance Church was one of those collection centres. Pastor Nick Kadun said there was plenty of reason to celebrate as members of the church and the community dropped off shoe boxes over the past weeks.

"We had 600 boxes come in to the church. It was a little bit down from the previous year where we had almost 700. Overall, still good. 600 boxes, that's 600 kids that are getting Christmas presents."

Airdrie Koinonia School collected 86 boxes from students and community members. Vice-Principal Matt Prebble reflected on the importance of the campaign for his students.

"It allows our students, and people in the community, to collect materials, things that we maybe take for granted [like] pencils, writing utensils, stickers, some normal everyday items and some toys and gifts and send them to people that otherwise wouldn't receive anything at the Christmas season."

While the official deadline to drop off shoe boxes at local collection centres has passed, there is still time to drop off at the Samaritan's Purse headquarters in Calgary. In Airdrie, two collection centres are still taking in the gifts.

Christine Winslow said the community can still drop off shoe boxes at her collection centre at Lone Pine RV until December 8, and she'll personally drive them in to Samaritan's Purse. While they haven't collected many boxes, Winslow said every little bit counts.

"Every little shoe box is very important, because it's life altering for each child that receives a box. Whether we collect 11 or 1,100, every one is so important."

Kimberly Hanson of Speedee Delivery will also take any late shoe boxes.

"This is something we believe is a good thing. Through our church last year, we got involved at that point, and this year we decided we wanted to go a little further."

Speedee Delivery will actually come and pick up shoe boxes from anyone that texts or calls their delivery line, and make sure they make it in on time. 

A spokesperson with Samaritan's Purse said an incomplete tally showed 600 shoe boxes had been collected from Airdrie so far, and they expect that number will increase as more trickle in in the coming weeks.

 

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