Operation Christmas Spirit mimics the first Christmas: bringing hope and love to those in humble circumstances.

Mary Haskett
Special to Spur Ottawa

“I saw someone offering a free turkey on Kijiji to a family who couldn’t afford one,” says Meggan Larson. “I thought it was a fantastic thing to do. My husband and I looked at the barely used toys our children had and decided to put together a package of dinner and gifts for a family. Some of our family members and friends joined us and the rest is history!”

Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer right after this initial act of kindness, Larson and her husband were recipients of an outpouring of love and generosity from the Kanata/Stittsville community.

“They rallied around my family and provided us with meals, baked goods, gift cards, diapers, and clothing for our kids,” she says. “To experience the love and kindness of so many strangers was incredible. I really saw them as the hands and feet of Jesus.”

The following year, December 2012, Larson asked friends and people she had met through her own journey whether they would partner with her in a new giving ministry. A hundred people offered to help and Operation Christmas Spirit took off.

In the lead up to Christmas, a call goes out to churches and the community to donate gifts and food for Christmas dinners.

Numerous churches have joined the ministry and even some local businesses, like Stittsville’s Tag Along Toys and Kiddie Kobbler. Operation Christmas Spirit also has a fund raising team, now, that organizes photo shoots and bake sales to help raise money.

Through word of mouth, Larson finds out about families in need, most of whom are reluctant to express their need. As gifts come in, they are sorted according to the needs of local families.

Last year alone, Operation Christmas Spirit provided 84 families with Christmas dinners and packages of gifts. All combined, in the last three years, Operation Christmas Spirit has helped more than 800 people.

“Each gift is labelled, ‘Love Jesus,’” Larson states. “He’s the reason I do this and as long as I run this ministry, every gift will always be from Jesus.”