Locals Break Operation Christmas Child Giving Records

WAITSBURG – According to Operation Christmas Child shoebox media coordinator Fay Smith, this was a big year this year’s collection drive, coordinated by Samaritan’s Purse, which culminated Thanksgiving week. A record 18,084 gift-filled Christmas Shoeboxes were given by residents of Dayton, Waitsburg, the Tri-Cities, and eastern Oregon.

There were 1,270 more boxes donated this year than last year and a record 196 came from the Waitsburg and Dayton area. That is a increase of 44 above last year’s local collection.

The shoeboxes were brought to Bethel Church in Richland where they were trucked to...