Big Day Monday for Shoeboxes

Monday was an exciting day for collection of shoeboxes for Effingham's Operation Christmas Child effort.

Only slightly more than 3,000 shoeboxes had been received at Cornerstone Christian Church, the effort's headquarters, early Sunday afternoon, far short of the more than 18,000-shoebox goal.

Sunday afternoon and a big day Monday saw a huge response, though, and the collection finished Monday night with 17,695 shoeboxes.

Operation Christmas Child is a humanitarian effort sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, a worldwide ministry overseen by Franklin Graham.  Pat Berry and others from the congregation of Cornerstone and other local churches have worked on the ministry for the past several years.

The shoeboxes are typically packed with toys, books, hygiene items and small clothing items for shipment to children throughout the world.  Most of the Effingham area boxes are headed for Ukraine or for several African nations.