Children in Third World countries will be getting presents this year thanks to the support of the Humboldt region.
This year, 650 boxes were filled for Operation Christmas Child (OCC) by the Humboldt region, said Reg and Linda Batza, OCC representatives from this area.
Although that number is down from the 719 shoe boxes filled with gifts and school supplies last year, they are still impressed with the support they received from the community.
"It goes by number of schools," said Reg. "This year, we weren't a project of some of the schools we were before, so that made a difference."
He explained there are many ways schools can teach students about giving and Operation Christmas Child is just one way.
"They don't always use this one," he said.
Although some of the schools did not participate this year, areas Annaheim, LeRoy, Bruno and Muenster did.
The Batzas became involved with the organization in 1996, when the church they attended at the time was promoting it.
Since then, the couple has been involved in the sorting and inspecting of boxes at Christmas and even went on a trip to Africa to distribute them.
"We were asked after our trip, if we wanted to be the volunteers in the Humboldt area, so then we started doing that," said Linda. "It is an opportunity to share God's love and people packing boxes to give to needy kids who don't have anything and may not have received a gift."
The Batzas said the organization is important because it helps those in Third World countries who don't have what we do.
"It gives them a little hope and some things they have never seen," said Reg. "It is a program that helps them out. It also teaches us, in the 'have' countries, to share a bit with those who don't have."
Although they have already collected the boxes and sent 25 cases on a bus, people who may have missed the deadline can still send the shoe boxes onto the Calgary or Ontario headquarters by taking the boxes to the bus depot.
"Greyhound Canada-wide does it free of charge to take to the depot in Calgary and the one in Ontario ," said Linda.
The Batzas were happy with the support they received from the local communities. The support will help children in other countries with things people in Canada take for granted.
"Operation Christmas Child will bring hope, joy and the love of Christ to the children who receive a shoe box, their families and communities," said Linda. "If they get school supplies, maybe the child can go to school, whereas before they couldn't, because they maybe didn't have a notebook or a pencil."
