The 2005 Operation Christmas Child campaign has been a huge success thanks to so many caring people in our community.

This year, 1880 show boxes in total were delivered to the collection centre in Cambridge in November (last year 1751 were delivered.

Shoe boxes were collected from schools, churches, businesses and individuals from Orangeville and area.

Through the Operation Christmas Child project, giftfilled shoe boxes are hand delivered to millions of poor and suffering children around the globe.

This year the shoe boxes collected in Canada will be sent to children in places such as Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay. Their pain and fears are put aside as they open the boxes and discover the wonders inside — dolls and balls, crayons and colouring books, toothbrushes and socks, treasures of every kind. For most, these are the first gifts they have ever received.

I would like to thank all who took part in this year’s campaign. A special thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the preparation and collection of the shoe boxes, especially those who loaded the boxes into the truck.

We’re looking forward to working with everyone again during the 2006 campaign. To find out more about this program visit www.samaritanspurse. ca\occ.

Carolyn Martin Local Co-ordinator