During the recent collection week for Operation Christmas Child, 3,760 shoe-box gifts were collected at the center in Columbus from people around the area.

These shoe boxes were filled by boy scout troops, businesses, churches, school groups, families and individuals.

Judy Loudermelt, co-coordinator for the Columbus Relay Center, says that she was overwhelmed by the generosity of people in filling shoe boxes.

The economy may be low, but spirits were high during collection week. Our goal in Polk County was exceeded by over 800 shoe boxes! We are so grateful for all the local support.

After being inspected and cartonized at the Processing Center in Charlotte, these shoe-box gifts will be hand-delivered to children around the world suffering from poverty, war, disease, natural disaster and terrorism.

Operation Christmas Child is a mission project of Samaritans Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism ministry.&bsp;&bsp; For more information, visit www.samaritanspurse.org.