Barrhead sets sixth straight record for Operation Christmas Child giving

BARRHEAD - It came down to the wire, but Barrhead's Operation Christmas Child (OCC) has broken yet another record.

On Nov. 25, Neerlandia Co-op loaded 1,263 shoeboxes into the back of their transport truck, not including the more than 400 boxes from Whitecourt, to take to Samaritan's Purse Western Canada distribution centre in Calgary.

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a project run by Samaritan's Purse Canada, a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization founded in 1970. It delivers shoeboxes of Christmas gifts to needy children worldwide.

From Calgary, the shoe boxes and the rest of Western Canada to Central American countries, Ukraine, the Philippines, West Africa and, for the first time, the Republic of Cape Verde.

"We still had a few boxes come to the church today," Herb Mantey said.

Mantey and his wife, Dera, have managed Barrhead's OCC effort with the help of the local Alliance Church for the last 17 years.

He added the couple had an inkling that they had a chance to set a new record during the church's annual packing party two days earlier when close to 40 volunteers put together 735 shoe boxes with all the surplus items people had donated. Of those items donated, there were hundreds of hand-made, knitted, crocheted and stitched items from Barrhead's Stitchers and Rippers, Hillcrest's Knitting Club and other crafters, such as toques, mittens, scarves, T-shirts and dresses, along with dolls and drawstring bags.

The Manteys said they were pleasantly surprised that they were able to break the old record of 1,216, which the community achieved last year.

Not because they don't believe the community isn't generous but because they know many people have transitioned to donating via the Samaritan's Purse website,www.packabox.ca, which people can do at any time of year.

In addition to the shoe boxes, Barrhead shipped seven cartons of surplus items they could not make complete boxes to the Calgary shipping centre. They will use them and other items they've received from different locations to make other shoeboxes.

"This is the sixth straight year that we've broken the record," he said. "Thinking about all the shoe boxes and the items people have donated to help us build those shoe boxes and then thinking about all the shoe boxes that people from the area have potentially donated through the Samaritan's Purse website is mind-boggling."

Unfortunately, the Manteys said that Samaritan's Purse does not currently have an easy way to track the number of people from the region who donated shoe boxes through its website. They added that they would be most curious to learn the true generosity of Barrhead's OCC donation.

"We are very, very grateful to the community of Barrhead for their continued generosity, as well as to the Neerlandia Co-op, which helps us transport the boxes year after year," Mantey said. "Thank you all."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com