LETTER: Columbia residents donate thousands of presents to children worldwide

Thanks to the generous efforts of Columbia residents, thousands of suffering children worldwide have entered the new year with new hope. Columbia residents joined Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan's Purse, to pack 6,410 shoe boxes with simple items most people take for granted, including toothpaste, toys and school supplies. The shoe boxes are now being hand-delivered to hurting children around the world using whatever means necessary — sea containers, helicopters, boats, camels ... even dog sleds!