Grace Bergmann has been raising money each year for the past four years

Four years ago, Merrittonian Grace Bergmann thought her yard and bake sale to fundraise for Operation Christmas Child would have been a one-time thing.

“I didn’t think it would happen again at all,” Bergmann said, noting she felt it was a spur of the moment initiative.

She felt a connection to the program after the first yard sale, which convinced her to make it an annual event.

“It was the right one for me to help,” she said.

Operation Christmas Child is a program which distributes hampers to children in need around the world, and throughout the year, community members contribute their wares to Bergmann to sell.

The campaign is held each year by Samaritan’s Purse Canada, an evangelical Christian organization that provides emergency relief programs to people affected by war, disease, natural disaster and famine.

Though it has a Christian message, the organization is nondenominational in terms of the people it provides support to.

The money raised is put towards buying goods such as toys and school supplies to fit in the shoeboxes.

While this year’s totals dipped slightly, Bergmann’s efforts in fundraising have grown a lot since year one.

In her first year, when she was just 10 years old, Bergmann raised about $400 to fill about 18 shoeboxes.

Two years ago, Bergmann raised $777 for the program, which bought enough goods to fill 48 shoeboxes.

Last year she raised $1,400 to fill about 60 boxes.

Bergmann uses the funds to fill as many shoeboxes as she can and then donates any excess funds straight to Operation Christmas Child.

After participating in the program for four years, Bergmann said it’s taught her that hard work pays off and people need to be thankful for what they have.

Bergmann also co-ordinates the shoebox program in the Merritt area.

The full campaign ramps up in October and the filled boxes are typically collected near the end of November before they’re distributed in to people in South America.

To donate, fill up an empty Operation Christmas Child Shoebox which are available for pickup and drop off at locations around town such as the Greyhound bus station or a local church.

People can also donate funds online at samaritanspurse.ca.