Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Nov 22/02) - On Christmas Day, needy children around the globe will be opening boxes filled with love from the people of Fort Providence.

Community members have been stuffing shoe boxes full of candy, supplies and toys. As part of Operation Christmas Child, those boxes are being shipped to needy children who suffer from neglect, illnesses, natural disasters or live in war-torn countries.

This year 131 boxes from Fort Providence -- population 750 -- were sent to Calgary, where evangelical group Samaritan's Purse co-ordinates the project. That's up from 120 boxes last year and 60 two years ago when donations were first collected in the community.

Staff at the Friendship Centre turned in seven boxes, the most among any organization. In addition to helping poor children, the employees at the Friendship Centre were also motivated to fill more boxes than their counterparts at Dene Fur Clouds, who issued a challenge to all other workplaces in Fort Providence.

Even though they fell just a couple short of winning the challenge, Nellie Norwegian said she and her co-workers at Dene Fur Clouds filled six boxes, twice as many as last year. Evelyn and Belinda Constant, mother and daughter, each filled one box and said they felt good about doing it. They included items such as a notepad, soap, pens, crayons, a toothbrush, a small stuffed animal, toys, socks, some small books and a face cloth.

"It was important for me (to get involved) because overseas children (often) don't get Christmas or presents," said Belinda. "They're probably happy to see something given to them."

They both said they wish they could be there to witness the children's eyes light up as they open the boxes.

"Everybody wants to participate (in Operation Christmas Child) now. Everybody wants to get involved," Belinda said.