With their local lists still growing, Moose Javians have finished some of their Christmas shopping early. However, these purchases are packed into shoe boxes and sent to kids they've never met. Through Operation Christmas Child over 2,000 less fortunate children around the world will be getting a Christmas present from Moose Jaw this year.

OCC Coordinator Phillip Siggelkow said the initiative wouldn't be possible without strong volunteer support. "The participation (in Moose Jaw) was great. A lot of businesses participated in the distribution of boxes and churches and schools got on board, it was just a really great experience."

As Siggelkow explains, the annual initiative can really make a difference in children's lives. "They have a different sense of values than our kids. They don't fight over who has the biggest box or if somebody got more than they did. They're just appreciative of what they get and it means so much to them."

More than 2,000 boxes were loaded onto a truck Tuesday and will head to Calgary before being shipped to children in Brazil, Paraguay and other South and Central American countries.