Submitted by Gail Maughan Wetaskiwin area coordinator
Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian international relief organization which delivered 11.4 million shoeboxes Internationally in 2016. There were 10 sending countries going into approximately 130 third world countries. Canadians provided 660,000 shoeboxes and out of those Wetaskiwin and area provided 3,323 boxes (some were later delivered to Calgary— a record!). In 2017 Canadian shoeboxes will be going into El Salvador, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Costa Rica, Haiti, Guinea, Senegal and the Ukraine.
Please read the new brochure provided with the shoeboxes for any changes. This year shipping charges are $10.
Shoeboxes can be filled with school items such as pencils, pencil crayons, sharpeners, erasers, small scribblers, note paper etc. Hygiene items might include soap, wash cloth, small towel, comb, toothbrush (no toothpaste, shampoo or liquids). Other items might include toys, T-shirts, flip-flops, socks, underwear, stuffed animals etc. Remember: 1. no candy or food items 2. no used items 3. no items that would melt or freeze 4. no items that might leak or break 5. nothing that will scare or harm a child. Samaritan’s Purse suggests that a $10 donation be included to help get your box to the third world country. Please help with this cost. (If you were to send a shoebox via Canada Post to Edmonton it costs $12.79, to Nepal, Ivory Coast, or Mexico, nearly $100 and who knows how long it would take to get there)..I checked!
You may use your own shoebox, or there will be Samaritan’s Purse boxes distributed at the Wetaskiwin Mall Farmer’s Market beginning October 4 to November 8 between 10 - 2. Shoeboxes will also be available from Wetaskiwin businesses (Copycats, the public library, The Dollar Store, Safeway, Tom Hortons, Smittys and the Justice Café) and Millet (public library, Fresh Market and Big Stone Custom Cabinets).
The 2017 collection week is Nov. 13 to 18 for Wetaskiwin area in the Wetaskiwin Mall. Hours are Mon, Tues and Wed Nov. 13, 14 and 15 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. plus Thurs and Fri Nov. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sat Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be no collection on Sun Nov. 19.
For more information contact Gail Maughan (coordinator for Wetaskiwin and area) at 780-352-2038 or e-mail to gmaughan@telusplanet.net. Further information is available at 1-800-303-1269 or www.samaritanspurse.ca.
This world needs a huge expression of love and hope, so please love a child through providing a shoebox filled with your love. You will never be the same and neither will the child or their family and even a whole community.