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Community Corner: Bay Area Residents Spread Christmas Joy In Shoe Boxes

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Last Christmas, San Francisco and San Mateo County residents packed more than 10,000 shoe boxes filled with gifts for children around the world who have never received a Christmas gift, let alone any gift.

This was part of the effort of Operation Christmas Child, which has been running since 1993 as part of the Christian nonprofit, Samaritan's Purse. To date, they have packed 100 million shoe boxes for needy children around the world.

KCBS' Connie C. Kim talks to Team Member, Jay Beard:

Team Member Jay Beard says this has become an annual tradition for his family and it's a great opportunity to teach kids to give this holiday season instead of just receive gifts themselves.

Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week runs November 12th through the 19th. They encourage people to pack their own shoe boxes with toys, school supplies, and hard candies that children may enjoy. There are five drop-off locations in San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

For more information on how you can get involved with Operation Christmas Child go to OperationChristmasChild.org.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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