Each Christmas, thousands of Calgarians become involved in the true spirit of giving by sending shoeboxes full of gifts to people less much less fortunate than themselves.

This year, the Operation Christmas Child convoy headed to the war-torn southern Mexican state of Chiapas to disperse goodies among children who live in orphanages and poverty.

The Calgary Herald took the marvellous Christmas journey, too.

Reporter Emma Poole and photographer Mikael Kjellstrom followed the shoeboxes to the children.