John Day and surrounding area residents generously contributed to the collection of a record-breaking 7,460 gift-filled shoeboxes from the Bend area for children in need as part of Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, which ended Nov. 21.

The Operation Christmas Child Bend Area Team thanks the John Day community for their gift donations already on their way to children in need worldwide.

Operation Christmas Child collects shoeboxes filled with donated gifts and hygiene products to give to children in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, areas affected by natural disasters and other situations of extreme poverty.

Since 1993, the organization has delivered over 135,000,000 shoeboxes all over the world. Last year, Grant County residents donated about 780 shoeboxes.