Time to collect holiday shoe boxes

To the editor:

Operation Christmas Child launches National Collection Week beginning Nov. 17 at the official relay center at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

Through an outpouring of generosity from our community, 2,874 shoe boxes were collected in 2007. These shoe boxes are delivered to children living in desperate situations around the world, sending the message of hope by the means of a simple shoe box.

Last year, shoe boxes from our area were distributed in 11 countries around the world. More than 50 unpaid servants collectively spent more than 300 hours at the relay center packing shoe boxes and shipping cartons for seven days.

Genesis Transportation has once again donated a trailer for us to fill with shoe boxes during National Collection Week. We hope the community will help us fill the trailer!

Additional information about Operation Christmas Child may be found at samaritanspurse.org, or by calling 800-353-5949. For local information about the relay center at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, please call 573-579-3408. It's time to pack and pray.

CHERYL REINAGEL, Relay Center Coordinator, Operation Christmas Child, Cape Girardeau