CALGARY, Alta. – A group of Canadian companies recently teamed with Operation Christmas Child to bring thousands of gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in Mexico.

East West Express, Great West Kenworth, Husky Oil Marketing – all Calgary, Alta.-based – and Barrie, Ont.’s Trio Transport all took part in the massive gift delivery.

A convoy of four tractor-trailers packed with over 38,000 gift-filled shoe boxes donated by Alberta families left Calgary’s Operation Christmas Child Warehouse and headed to Nogales, Mexico.

Once in Nogales, the drivers personally distributed some of the gift boxes to local children before the rest of their cargo was forwarded on to other parts of Mexico.

The convoy’s delivery was part of more than 633,000 gift boxes from across Canada that Operation Christmas Child sent to children in 23 countries around the world.

“Canadians have really outdone themselves this year,” says Sean Campbell, executive director for Samaritan’s Purse – Canada, the driving force behind Operation Christmas Child. “This is by far the largest amount of shoe boxes we’ve ever received.”

This year, shoe boxes from Canada will be distributed throughout Central and South America, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and the Balkans.

“We’re honored to distribute these gifts on behalf of all the generous Canadians who donated them,” he adds.

“To children around the world who have nothing, it means so much for them to know that people care enough to give them a gift and expect nothing in return.”

Now in its eighth year, Operation Christmas Child is part of a year-round initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that provides the basic necessities of clean water, food, clothing, and medical aid to people around the world. n