The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Shoebox gift was a lesson of giving that still resonates continued from p.34 She wanted to memorize a Bible verse written on the picture, but couldn't because it was worded in English and she wasn't familiar with the language at the time. "That verse became `Love gives to me.' I decided instead of keeping that box just for me, to start sharing. The next day, I shared my colours and everything that was in the box at school with my friends," said Vezentan. Lesson learned from shoebox "I learned when you love someone, you give and you share. That was the lesson I learned from the shoebox." At 15, Vezentan and her family immigrated to Canada and she reconnected with OCC. The second time the shoebox "changed everything in my life," Vezentan said, was when she went to Senegal, West Africa last year to deliver shoeboxes her own children had packed. Exciting to see "It was so exciting to see those children and give them the shoeboxes. When I got to deliver those shoeboxes, I completed the circle of giving. Instead of being on the receiving end of the shoebox, I was the giver," said Vezentan. Upon returning from Senegal, Vezentan launched a non-profit organization called Love Gives 3:16, which donates all proceeds to Operation Christmas Child. Canadians donated more than 664,000 shoeboxes in 2013 and to date, OCC has collected and distributed more than 100 million shoebox gifts worldwide. Students pack more than 2,000 St. Marguerite d'Youville students have packed approximately 2,000 shoeboxes in recent years, including close to 500 in 2014. "You're a really cool school (St. Marguerite d'Youville). I really like it here. I was so excited when I heard that you packed almost 500 shoeboxes. That's really awesome," said Vezentan. For more information on OCC, visit www.samaritanspurse.ca/ operation-christmas-child. 41 | Thursday, November 13, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com MIX & MINGLE WEEKEND! · · · · · see the latest in home holiday fashion enjoy complimentary hot chocolate free ornament workshop for children Christmas seminars for adults bring your camera to take photos at our Christmas theme photo booths off all regular priced items Sat. Nov. 15th & Sun. Nov. 16th SAVE 20% 6" Cyclamen in ceramic urn SUNDAY SATURDAY SLEIGH STOPPERS SLEIGH STOPPERS $34.99 Everlasting Wreath (2 styles), Reg. $64.99 $18.99 Outdoor Evergreen Arrangement $9.99 Reg. $24.99 $5 Patterned Door Mat (choose from 10 styles), Reg. $19.99 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: Mon. - Sun. 9am - 6pm $4.99 6" Poinsettia in decorative pot, Reg. $12.99 $19.99 Square Boxwood Wreath (16"), Reg. $39.99 All items while quantities last, subject to availability. Category offers exclude "TERRA Essentials" Sale period: Nov. 15th & 16th www.terragreenhouses.com Burlington (905) 332-3222 · Milton (905) 876-4000 · Waterdown (905) 689-1999 ·Vaughan (905) 832-6955 Our Hamilton location is closed for renovations and will re-open spring 2015