Rhonda Griffin, Journal Editor

ELIZABETHTOWN — The donation drive for Operation Christmas Child is in full-force once again to collect small gifts for those in need.

The gifts, which may include personal items, school supplies, candy, necessity items and notes, are packaged together in shoe boxes to give to children in less-fortunate countries around the world.

A program sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, the Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts are collected at various sites to be shipped overseas in time for the holidays.

National collection week for the program is Nov. 17 through 24. After Nov. 24, shoe box gifts may be mailed to Samaritan’s Purse at 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607.

A local shoe box packing party will be held at Elizabethtown Middle School on Sept. 27, from 2 until 4 p.m. Residents are needed to help with packing the box gifts to be shipped out for the program.

Donations are still being accepted as well.

Necessary items such as toothbrushes, hand soap, small toys and stuffed animals and hard candy may be included in the packages.

For more information about the program, contact Pat Warwick at 645-4596.