Deadline approaching for Operation Christmas Child gift program

The deadline for participation in Operation Christmas Child, a program that enables individuals to send a gift-filled shoe box to a child in another part of the world, is closing in.

To participate, put items such as toiletries, candy, toys, school supplies and a letter in a shoe box, wrap it and deliver it to a drop off site by Monday. Last year, 12,563 shoe boxes were donated by Southeast Missouri. The goal this year is more than 14,000 boxes.

Drop-off sites in the area include St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, First Baptist Church of Millersville, Charleston Baptist Association in Benton, Stokelan Drive Christian Church in Malden, Trinity Gospel in Sikeston and Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. For more information on drop-off points, call 800-678-7561.

Operation Christmas Child was started by the Christian international relief organization Samaritan's Purse in 1993.