Operation Christmas Child Huge Success

Six years ago Manitoba Paramedics became involved with Operation Christmas Child, using one ambulance and visiting one school. This year paramedics across the province volunteered to collect the gift filled shoeboxes, destined for underprivileged children in South America, from nearly thirty schools, making it one of our most successful campaigns to date.

On November 5th and 6th, Paramedics from Winnipeg, South Eastman, Assiniboine, North Eastman, Central and Interlake regions collected nearly 5000 shoeboxes in support of Operation Christmas Child. The event concluded with a parade of off-duty ambulances through the streets of Winnipeg as the boxes were delivered to the OCC drop-off depot and prepared for transport.

This year marked a couple of "firsts" for our OCC drive. We witnessed a very special delivery all the way from Churchill. Paramedics from our most northern RHA collected a number of shoeboxes that were then loaded on a CalmAir flight and "airlifted" to Winnipeg to be added to our collection total. We also welcomed some new participants to the event...both Criti Care EMS and Canadian Forces 17 Wing volunteered crews and ambulances for both days to help with pick-ups and take part in the parade.

To coordinate an event that stretches across 7 regional health authorities utilizing the resources of both public and private operators and visits schools throughout the province is no small feat. A special thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make 2007 a stunning success for OCC here in Manitoba, to the Paramedics who volunteered for this very worthwhile cause and to the many employers and operators who graciously allowed us to use off-duty equipment to collect the boxes.

This is the third year that I've had the privilege to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Not only does it serve as an excellent opportunity to meet and work with Paramedics from across the province on a very worthwhile project, but undoubtedly it put smiles on the faces of thousands of young children who otherwise have very little to smile about.