Volunteers from Fayette and surrounding areas, making up a multi-county area team, have collected enough gift-filled shoeboxes to reach more than 32,800 children in need through the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child, but they are not resting on their success.

Area residents can still participate in Operation Christmas Child by packing a gift-filled shoebox online for children suffering from poverty, natural disaster, war, terror, disease and famine. Like online shopping, visitors can browse samaritanspurse.org/occ to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish by uploading a photo and writing a note of encouragement to be included in the shoebox they build online. They can also follow their box to discover where in the world it will be delivered.

Participants can give a $25 gift card to a family member or friend so they can join in the excitement of Operation Christmas Child by packing a shoebox gift online. These shoeboxes – filled with school supplies,toys, hygiene items and notes of encouragement – are delivered to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries around the world.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call  or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.