They might be poor starving students, but when it comes to Christmas, they obviously have big hearts.
Operation Christmas Child was a huge success at UNBC, where more than 250 red and green boxes destined for needy families were picked up for students and UNBC staff members to fill.
"I was a bit of a skeptic initially and thought that poor and hungry students would not pick up boxes," said Michele Sinclair, co-organizer of the local chapter of Operation Christmas Child. "Thankfully my thinking was wrong, and the students picked up over 250 boxes. Some student even picked up a couple boxes at a time. According to Grant Bachand, who coordinated the event, the students were really happy to participate, remembering how they used to pack boxes in elementary school."
All three Rotary Clubs in the city took home shoeboxes to fill, as did several schools, churches, youth groups, and employee groups, bringing the city's total to about 2,500. The boxes are being stuffed with toys, school supplies and personal hygiene items.
Starting on Monday, the filled shoeboxes can be dropped off at Hartland Baptist Church, 6599 Driftwood Rd. The church will be staffed with volunteers to receive boxes this Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 24 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 25 from noon-3 p.m.
For 20 years, Operation Christmas Child has been providing Prince George families and individuals the opportunity to send gifts to kids in countries stricken by poverty, disease, war or natural disasters. Canada will be sending shoebox gifts to Costa Rica, Venezuela, Haiti and West Africa. The 100 millionth shoebox since the program began in 1993 will be sent from Canada sometime this year.
