Christmas Child conjures a number of images, everything from a Christmas movie to the birth of Jesus Christ.
It's also the name of a shoebox program aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged children around the world.
Elliot Lake's target area on this mission is Central America.
The Elliot Lake depot for the collection of shoeboxes for third-world kids in need is Fellowship Baptist Church located at 20 Roman Ave.
Even though this year's shipment isn't due to leave Elliot Lake until the fall, work on this year's program is already well underway.
Donna Fournier is the point person here, the Elliot Lake Logistics Coordinator, for the Samaritan's Purse initiative at Fellowship Baptist.
Operation Christmas Child is the Samaritan's Purse project which collects shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items, and toys.
The charity works with local churches around the world to deliver gifts to children living in war, poverty, disaster and groups of people who have not been reached.
Fournier says, "Each box is a powerful expression of hope, joy and love. But that’s only the beginning. Every shoebox gift is an opportunity to share about Jesus Christ.
For Fournier, it's a cause close to her heart, "Children have always been so near and dear to my heart.
"I was not blessed with children of my own so in serving as a volunteer and shoebox packer ... I am able to participate in bringing children around the world excitement, joy, love and hope."
She said with fear, injustice and violence rampant in the world, it falls to Fellowship Baptist to spread love, peace and joy.
Approximately 15 to 20 people in the local congregation are active participants. They get involved in every aspect of the project from accepting items, filling shoeboxes at their annual packing party, or helping at the drop-off location and accepting shoebox community donations.
The deadline seems a long way off but experience has shown it's important to get the word about the program out in the spring in anticipation of the fall collection and distribution effort.
"Collection week for shoeboxes is the third week of November but in Elliot Lake, we must get our shoeboxes to the drop-off to be picked up, so Nov. 15 is Elliot Lake’s deadline," said Fournier.
Samaritan's Purse has mandated the Elliot Lake group's donations and those throughout Canada to go to Central/Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, and Africa: Cote D’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
If you want to get involved, you can use an average-sized shoebox or order free preprinted shoeboxes online at “pack-a-shoebox” and pack your own.
Donors can decide whether their gift will be filled for a boy or girl, in a particular age group, i.e. “2-4”, “5-9” or “10-14”.
Fill your shoebox with a WOW gift (stuffed animal, doll, truck, deflated ball – including pump, musical instrument, puzzle, toys); plus hygiene items - soap, washcloth, toothbrush, comb, hairbrush; plus school supplies – pencils, pens, crayons, ruler, safety scissors, glue sticks, erasers, notebooks; then clothing – tee shirts, skirts, shorts, dresses, socks, underwear, footwear – flip flops, slippers, water shoes; along with flashlights, candles and hair accessories
A $10 gift for each box is placed inside an envelope in the box, and then a sticker identifies the gender and age group on the top.
Each box is wrapped with an elastic band and taken to Fellowship Baptist by Nov. 15.
For those who want to help in other ways, go online to the “pack-a-shoebox” website.
You can be walked through a process to purchase a box that way. Each box will be filled with new items of your general choice at a cost of $40 per shoebox.
Elliot Lake Fellowship Baptist Church also offers a “packing party” option in the fall after items are collected throughout the year, volunteers are welcomed to join in the annual packing party to put shoeboxes together with others in a group setting (COVID restrictions as applicable).
All donations of monetary value where an official receipt is desired are required should be mailed to Samaritans Purse, 20 Hopewell Way NE, Calgary, AB T3J 5H5
There are a few items that are not allowed in the shoe boxes, including glass (unless a compact mirror in a closed case), liquids, pastes (shampoo, toothpaste, lip gloss); no war-related items or clothing (e.g. fighting superheroes, camouflage items, knives or gun toys); aerosols, sharp objects, candy or food of any kind, used items or four-suit playing cards.
Denison Mines (Elliot Lake) has been involved in the local program for several years by having its employees donate
packed shoeboxes or donate to having shoeboxes packed.
For each box that is donated by an employee, Denison has donated the $10 to cover shipping charges.
Fournier says it’s a great way to get your employees and your business engaged in a worthwhile cause that brings joy to children around the world. In fact, Denison has issued a challenge to other local businesses to get involved.
For more information, you can call Elliot Lake and the surrounding area Operation Christmas Child Logistics Coordinator, Donna Fournier at 705-848-1736. Leave a message and she'll return your call.