Columbia families are partnering with Operation Christmas Child to send gift- filled shoe boxes to children worldwide who are suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, poverty and famine.

A project of Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child starts with a simple shoe box filled with school supplies, toys, necessity items and often a hand- written note of encouragement.

How to help:

• Prepare - Enlist families, churches, community groups, and businesses to take part in packing shoe box gifts.

• Pack - Fill boxes with toys, necessity items, school supplies, candy, etc.

• PROCESS - Join Operation Christmas Child volunteers this fall at one of the nine collection sites in the Columbia area, to collect and prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged children on six continents.