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Operation Christmas Child underway

The Cranbrook and Kimberley Operation Christmas Child campaign is now underway, with a shorter time period.

For the Townsman

The Cranbrook and Kimberley Operation Christmas Child campaign is now underway, with a shorter time period.

Local media spokesperson Gary Cavers said the slow start-up and shortened campaign period is due to the initial lack of local volunteers stepping forward to take charge of the campaign this year, after most of the former group retired because of job, health and personal commitments. New volunteers have offered to help-out for the time being, so the campaign can begin locally. The Alliance Church in Cranbrook will be the Church Sponsor and act as the Christmas Child Shoebox Distributing and Co-ordinating centre.

Several businesses said they would act as pick-up and drop-off locations.

Unfortunately, the Elk Valley will not be fully covered this year because of the lack of finding and lack of volunteers to spearhead the campaign and organize distribution and pick-ups.

Operation Christmas Child, under the direction of Samaritans Purse is the largest Children's Christmas Project in the world.

Since its beginning in 1993, Operation Christmas Child globally, has collected and distributed over 100 million gift filled Shoeboxes for needy children in various poor countries around the world.

Get started now and fill your Shoebox with small gifts for kids in need. You have only a few weeks to do it. The Campaign Collection Week is Nov. 17-23. You're reminded to enclose a $7 shipping donation in your box to cover the cost of getting your gift box delivered to a needy child. Make cheques and money orders etc. to Samaritans Purse.

You can pick-up and drop-off your Shoeboxes at the following locations:

Cranbrook:

McDonalds Restaurant, Pharmasave  on Baker Street, Your Dollar Stores. Cranbrook Alliance Church (during regular office hours, Mon-Fri.).

Kimberley:

The Royal Bank, The Great Canadian Dollar Store, Lindsey Park Elementary

For more information contact: Joanne Wiens, 250-426-2900; Gary Cavers, 250-426-1948;  or Don Miller 250-489-3942