Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS)’s John MacKay wants to make sure the holiday season is happy for children across the world.
MacKay, a paramedic, has organized donations to Operation Christmas Child in conjunction with the WFPS for 15 years. Working with schools and churches across the city, MacKay and the WFPS collect donations of about 3,000 shoeboxes filled by participants from schools and churches for Operation Christmas Child. This year, the WFPS will supply its disaster unit, a specially-equipped ambulance with a trailer, to gather the donated shoeboxes.
Operation Christmas Child is an initiative started in 1990 by Samaritan's Purse, which collects and distributes shoebox gifts to children in need across the world. Each shoebox is filled with hygiene items school supplies, toys and candy. In 2014, shoeboxes donated by Canadians will be distributed in Uruguay, El Salvador, Guatemala, Sierra Leon, Costa Rica, Haiti, Senegal, and more. Last year, Canadians donated more than 664,000 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
On November 20, the WFPS will use the disaster unit vehicle to collect shoeboxes from schools and churches across Winnipeg. The WFPS would like to thank Winnipeggers for supporting this important initiative, and for working with us to help make the holidays special for children around the world.