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Calgary volunteers pack shoeboxes for kids around the world

Volunteers pack shoeboxes at Operation Christmas Child processing centre in Calgary.. Global News

CALGARY- Another successful shoebox campaign wrapped up Saturday Calgary.

Operation Christmas Child has been delivering shoeboxes stuffed with goodies to children around the world for 22 years.

It’s run by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian charity organization.  On Saturday, dozens of volunteers were busy packing the last of the shoeboxes to be sent to countries in Africa and  Central and South America.

The donated boxes contain everything from toys  to school supplies and hygiene products.

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Globally, the Samaritan’s Purse community has handed out over 100 million shoeboxes since 1993.

Organizers say the gifts inside  may seem like small items but they do make a big difference in children’s lives.  Randy Crosson,  the  director of operations for Operation Christmas Child, says he’s spoken with Canadian volunteers who received shoeboxes as children.

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“They got a box when they were a child and it changed their perspective of the world. They thought there’s this wonderful place called Canada. And I have to get there. I remember sitting in a meeting in Ecuador years ago and this young girl was saying she’s going to become a doctor and going to med school and she had gotten the shoebox and that changed her life and made her think about the world and being a part of it,” said Crosson.

This year in Canada over 700,000 stuffed shoeboxes were donated.    Saturday marked the last day for dropping off packed shoeboxes at the Calgary location.   Shoeboxes can also be packed on line at www.PackaBox.ca

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