Nancy MacLean Eveson has been involved with Operation Christmas Child for more than a decade and although the donations of boxes is down from last year, she is still pleased with the response from businesses, organizations and individuals who filled the bright red and green boxes this year.

RESIDENTS OF COLVILLE MANOR IN SOURIS recently packed 15 boxes for Operation Christmas Child. The residents are, back row, Pius MacEachern, Frank Gorman, Rhoda MacDonald, Loretta Hennessey, and Barbara O’Keefe. Front: Stella Doiron, Gwen Rorke and Marion Gallant. Missing from the photo is Allan J. MacDonald.

GRADE 12 LEADERSHIP STUDENTS at Souris Regional High School raised approximately $700 and packed 39 boxes for the Operation Christmas Child project. This was the third year the students have participated in the program under the leadership of teacher Allister Smith (middle row on the right). The students held games and activities in the gym to raise the money and collected money from each classroom.

"We have about 400 boxes this year, compared to almost 500 last year," she said. "A lot of people said the loss of the Dollar Warehouse in Souris is to blame, but I'm always amazed at the generosity of the people in the area."

"The students at Souris High are fantastic," Ms MacLean Eveson said. "Not only did they donate 39 boxes they also raised enough money to cover the cost of shipping for that many and more."

Ms MacLean Eveson would like to thank everyone who donated gifts of toys, school supplies and books for the Samaritan’s Purse, the organization that distributes the boxes throughout the world. This year’s donations will be going to children in Central America, South America, the Caribbean and West Africa.

A special thanks to Robin’s Donuts for being a distribution centre and to Souris Credit Union for providing a distribution and drop-off location.

"It is such a worthwhile endeavour and I love how everyone gets on board and supports this project year after year," Ms MacLean Eveson said. "All the schools in the district get involved and every year Colville Manor residents pack some boxes. A big thanks to everyone."