It's an early start to the Christmas season for volunteers with Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.

The popular red and green shoe boxes are now available for pick-up across the Pembina Valley and are ready to be filled with small toys, school supplies and hygiene items to be given to less fortunate children around the world. Parcels packed in the region this year will join others from across Canada and get disbursed in 3 countries in Central America and 5 in West Africa.

"I would say, think like a kid on Christmas morning. Every shoe box is so unique, so just have fun with it," said Andrea Zammit, who is new to the role of Central Drop-off Team Leader. She adds not to forget to include a $10 donation in the box in order to cover the cost of shipping, processing and partner training in the receiving countries.

When out shopping or packing boxes in groups, Zammit reminds volunteers to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. But if COVID-19 has you sticking closer to home this year, she says a great option is to pack a shoe box online where you can select the gender of the child who will receive your box, their age and even choose a few items that will be included.

Zammit says her son Liam "loved" helping out at the local collection centre last year.

Meantime, there's word this year's efforts out of Plum Coulee could hit a new high. In 2019, the community rallied to fill 1,295 OCC shoe boxes. According to Zammit, one church has set a goal of 1,000 for 2020.

"And other churches and residents of Plum Coulee pack a significant amount, so I'm anticipating another large collection from there this year," she said.

Empty shoe boxes can be picked-up at the following locations:


Altona:

Party and Gift Shop Plus

Great Canadian Dollar Store

Winkler:

Dollarama

Access Credit union

Country Kitchen

Tempo Hi-Way Groceteria

Morris:

Bigway Foods

Emerson:

Bigway Foods

Morden:

Giant Tiger

Great Canadian Dollar Store

Dollar Store Plus More

National collection week runs Nov. 16-22, 2020. Zammit says drop offs should happen by the 15th unless otherwise noted.

In Winkler:

Gospel Mission Church

Access Credit Union

Country Kitchen at Quality Inn

In Plum Coulee:

*Shoebox pick up happening on November 18th at 6:30 at the Centre on Main whether or not tree lighting is happening

In Altona:

Party and Gift Shop
Altona Mall - table set up (will be picked up continually during the day and put in locked room)

In Morris:

Bigway Foods

In Morden:

Dollar Store Plus More. Large amount of shoeboxes from Morden should be brought directly to GMC church in Winkler

In Carman:

Carman Pentecostal Assembly on:

November 16 9:00am - 12:00pm November 17 9:00am - 12:00pm

November 18 9:00am - 12:00pm

November 19 9:00am - 12:00pm and 6:00pm - 9:00pm

November 20 9:00am - 9:00pm

November 21 9:00am - 9:00pm

November 22 9:00am - 12:30pm

Zammit adds because Gospel Mission Church is the central drop off place this year, shoe boxes can be dropped off there during Collection Week.

November 16 8:30am - 4:30pm

November 17 8:30am - 8:30pm

November 18 8:30am - 8:30pm

November 20 8:30am - 4:30pm

November 21 12:00pm - 5:00pm