IN BRIEF: Conyers and Rockdale collected more than 1,900 shoeboxes on Monday filled with gifts and supplies for needy children in the world. Boxes filling a truck, loaned by Associated Paper, were shipped out to a further collection point in McDonough on Monday. Theresa Ray, coordinator at Smyrna Presbyterian for Operation Christmas Child, said it moving to see so many boxes of gifts. 

Operation Christmas Child, year-round project of Samaritan’s Purse, was founded in 1993 and is run by Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham.  This ministry is considered to be the world’s largest Christmas project, distributing more than 86 million gifts to children in 130 countries since its inception.

 Tracking technology allows donors to “follow” their box to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need.  Use the Follow Your Box donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ to find out the destination country.