This Christmas, most children in Alberta will receive much of what they asked Santa for but that will not be the case in many parts of the developing world.

Since Operation Christmas Child began in the mid-1990’s, Calgarians have been among its biggest supporters in providing gifts to children in some of the poorest areas of the globe.

Thousands of shoeboxes are filled with gifts by people throughout southern Alberta and distributed by the organization.

This year more than 200 kids will receive boxes packed by Patti Lemp, whose basement becomes a makeshift assembly line of gifts each autumn.

Patti was introduced to Operation Christmas Child in the 1990’s when the Airdrie school she taught at became involved in the program

“We got a letter back from one of the children there, a girl, and she was just so grateful, so blessed, to have received this box,” said Patti Lemp. “That made it personal."

“We'd heard about the boxes you know, pack up a box of stuff and send it off to someone, but it isn't, it's a gift and it's a very personal gift.”

The letter inspired Patti to increase her involvement with the program and, a few years ago, Patti had the opportunity to assist with the dispersal of the presents.

“I had a chance to go to Uruguay and help hand out the boxes to the kids,” said Patti. “When you see first hand how much joy there is in it and how much they respond to it, what it means to them to get them, you can't help but want to do it more.”

Each year, Patti increases the number of boxes she packs. In 2013, she has prepared 211 packages with a personal touch. Among the gifts, each box includes a note and a photograph of Lemp and her husband.

Angelika Fryklind manages the Operation Christmas Child program in Alberta and the northern territories and she says Patti Lemp's generosity is inspirational.

“Patti's heart is huge,” said Fryklind. “She just has such a genuine love for children and she just exemplifies that through her acts of kindness and compassion."

Patti Lemp’s generosity, and her dedication to bringing joy to underprivileged children, makes her this week’s Inspiring Albertan.

With files from CTV's Darrel Janz