NIT looking for gifts for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
LINDSAY GOSS
Pass Herald Reporter
Students at Nippon Institute of Technology (NIT) will be collecting gifts for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox program for the fourth annual year, proving that a small good deed can go a far distance. Last year, NIT collected enough items, they were able to pack 100 shoeboxes, despite the fact that the school only had 18 attending students. Cheryl Cann, the Community Service Learning Coordinator and instructor at NIT explains that the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox program coincides with the students’ curriculum at NIT, namely poverty in other countries.
“The students are usually quite surprised to see poverty, as they are from Japan, and it’s not as visible in their nation.”
The shoeboxes were then packaged and shipped to children in need across the globe.
Although NIT welcome gifts of all kinds, they are primarily focused on collecting items for boys and girls aged 2-14, including toys, (dolls, small puppets, yo-yos, balls, building blocks, puzzles, trucks, cars, toy jewelry, children’s card games, educational supplies, (felt pens, crayons, coloured and plain pencils, pens, small note pads erasers, small picture books, activity books, pencil cases,) hygiene items, (toothbrushes, hairbrushes, barrettes, bars of soup, small towel/facecloths,) or other items including sunglasses, caps, hats, t-shirts, socks, hard candy or small tool kits.
All items for the shoeboxes should be new due to Canada Custom regulations.
Items such as liquids or gels that could freeze or melt, including toothpaste, lip balm/gloss, shampoo, bath gel, breakable items made from glass, mirrors, soft chewy candy or gum, adult playing cards or items that may frighten a child such as guns, knives or war toys.
“Initially, they just started doing it as a school community,” explained Cann, saying that it was primarily just NIT students and school staff participating in the project. NIT students packed the boxes, during a service learning class and then shipping away to their destination.
However, in the last couple of years, the program has branched out into the community. “We slowly started inviting the community in,” said Cheryl.
This year, because the class only had five students, NIT will be collecting gifts from anyone in the community.
“A lot of people aren’t sure what to put in the box, or can not afford a whole box but still want to participate,” said Cann. “This is how they can help without spending loads of money.”
Can explained that all items are sorted and broken it down to age groups: ages 2-4, ages 5-9 and ages10-14.
“If people want to pack their own box, they pick the age and gender they want to buy for.” She said. “But it may be easier for people to just buy a bunch of pencils, or easers,” She said. “It is less limited.”
“We only have five students, so owe set the goal at 50,” she said.
Cann added that if the public is unsure of what to purchase for the shoeboxes, Samaritans Purse asked for financial donations, as it costs approximately seven dollars to ship the boxes overseas. “Any little bit helps,” she said.
“I hope that the community does get involved,” she said. “We want to remind people that some of the children who receive the gifts, may be the first gift they have ever received. It can be a very powerful contribution.”
Donations can be dropped off at the NIT Campus on Main Street in Blairmore no latter than Tuesday, November 27th during regular office hours. Boxes will be packed the following morning.
