Sandra Kellestine loves purses and shoes boxes – especially ones destined to bring joy and hope to children in desperate situations through ‘Operation Christmas Child’.

Every year thousands of shoeboxes are sent to needy children all around the world through the program sponsored by the Samaritan’s Purse organization. Each box is filled with school supplies, personal hygiene products, small toys, hats, candy etc. for boys and girls ages two to fourteen years old.
“Everybody thought receiving the shoe box was the best thing that ever happened in our lives,” says Khin Khin, now 18, in recalling her time seven years ago living in India as a refugee from Burma, waiting to be transferred to a new country.
“Everybody thought receiving the shoe box was the best thing that ever happened in our lives,” says Khin Khin, now 18, in recalling her time seven years ago living in India as a refugee from Burma, waiting to be transferred to a new country.

Sandy is the Logistics Co-ordinator for the St. Thomas and Aylmer area. Born in Shedden, Ontario she has lived in Elgin County her entire life. This is her second year in this position and she hopes to surpass the 1200 boxes collected last year. That may very well happen as she as already handed out more than 1500 boxes.
Sandy and husband John Kellestine plan to travel to Central America next Spring to distribute the boxes.
Samaritan’s Purse is the Canadian arm of a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that has been providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world since 1970. Find out more about the organization, tips on packing the she boxes, and their impact on recipients. More…
The drop off depot for this area is at The Salvation Army, 380 Elm St., St.Thomas. The office is open Mon-Fri.,9:00 a.m. – 2:00, 519-631-6202. Empty shoe boxes can be picked up between these hours. The filled boxes will be collected between Nov. 21-27th.
Sandy and husband John Kellestine plan to travel to Central America next Spring to distribute the boxes.
Samaritan’s Purse is the Canadian arm of a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that has been providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world since 1970. Find out more about the organization, tips on packing the she boxes, and their impact on recipients. More…
The drop off depot for this area is at The Salvation Army, 380 Elm St., St.Thomas. The office is open Mon-Fri.,9:00 a.m. – 2:00, 519-631-6202. Empty shoe boxes can be picked up between these hours. The filled boxes will be collected between Nov. 21-27th.