Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL), a nontraditional students’ honors society, is collecting shoebox presents for Operation Christmas Child.
Students can fill shoeboxes with small gifts appropriate for a boy or a girl in the age groups of 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14 years old. Students are asked to wrap a rubber band around each box, include a $7 check to cover shipping expenses, and drop them off at the Adult Commuter and Transfer Services (ACTS) office on the second floor of the Culp Center by Nov. 9.
“The ASL organization is very community service oriented,” said Jeff Howard, ACTS assistant director. “This project is something that would allow members to be involved who maybe couldn’t commit to being on campus during a certain time.”
This is the first time the group has sponsored the project. Shalena Peterson, ASL member, proposed the service project to the group’s leadership board.
Operation Christmas Child is a project created and run by Samaritan’s Purse, presided over by Franklin Graham, son of evangelical leader Billy Graham.
Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian organization that aides people around the world. For 14 years, the humanitarian Christmas project has provided presents for needy children in more than 100 countries.
“It is something that I have been doing with my own kids,” said Peterson. “I do it because I think Christmas has really gotten commercialized.”
Through this project she said she hopes to teach her children about the spirit of giving during this Christmas season.
“There is someone out there who has a need and would appreciate a gift no matter what it is or how much it costs,” said Peterson.
For more information visit www.samaritanspurse.org.

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