Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a hands-on way for Canadians to bless struggling children in the developing world by gifting shoeboxes filled with toys, hygiene products, school supplies, and other items. OCC was first started by Dave and Jill Cooke in 1990 to help the children of Romania. Since 1993 OCC has been lead by the Samaritan’s Purse who has helped deliver shoeboxes to more than 157 million children in over 130 countries. OCC volunteers collect shoeboxes and distribute them to children living in desperate situations. This way, no matter the adversity they face, these children know that they are loved and not forgotten.
Pinchin’s British Columbia team has been a celebrated supporter of OCC for several years. Throughout the Christmas season, employees work together to contribute as many shoeboxes as they can to this worthy cause, with each box containing items worth a total of $25. From toothpaste to soccer balls, everyone delights in coming up with the coolest, the cutest, or the most helpful boxes. Not only does it feel good to give, but it also brings people together at this wonderful time of year.
For 2018, the Richmond team wanted to go bigger and better than ever. Not only did employees actively participate, but they also brought in family and friends to take part in this annual tradition. Pinchin helped to ease the load off its busier employees by hiring personal shoppers to take monetary donations and use them to fill boxes. Everyone went a little further this year, with several employees having contributed shoeboxes worth $30.
It is with these efforts that the Richmond team broke previous personal records by providing a whopping 61 boxes to OCC this year. Our employees are proud of the work and time they committed to this total, and can sit down to Christmas dinner knowing that 61 children around the world are enjoying the holiday with them. What better way to connect with each other than with gift-giving on a global scale?
Pinchin is immensely proud of its employees, which is why our company has made its own donation of $1,800 to OCC. The spirit of giving is infectious, and the selfless effort of our employees has inspired us to take part.
This year’s records will be hard to beat, but Pinchin knows its employees are more than capable of breaking them next year, when the spirit of Christmas inspires us all to give again.
If you want to learn more about how you can help vulnerable children this holiday season, please visit https://www.samaritanspurse.ca/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child
