 Well, it may be early to start your Christmas shopping, but for some the deadline is approaching fast. Our Josh Peterson introduces us to Operation Christmas Child. The sights and sounds of Christmas are popping up just about everywhere you go. But for some, the Christmas shopping deadline is coming up fast. Operation Christmas Child's purpose is to bring Christmas to all kids all over the world who may never have had the experience of opening up a Christmas gift. Boxes, approximately the size of shoeboxes, it can be plastic or cardboard, to send gifts around the world to kind of spread the gospel. At Hobby Lobby stores, plastic totes the size of shoeboxes are available and throughout the store, areas are labeled with Christmas Child markers, recommending an ideal gift to add to your shoebox. Now to send a shoebox full of Christmas joy around the world is easy. Simply find a shoebox size box, fill it with items for a young boy or girl, and add a donation of $7. Your efforts are sure to make a Christmas morning a lot brighter for some lucky boy or girl. At Bemidji's First Lutheran Church, a shoebox packing session was held, filling and wrapping over 90 boxes, but this church takes it a step further. Half the boxes will include a handmade book bag, but the other half will include hats and mittens, because half of the boxes will be given out locally. Well, we like to support not only ministries, but also to keep it local. First Lutheran Church knows firsthand the shoeboxes are appreciated. Recently, a letter from a shoebox recipient in Africa was sent to the Bemidji Church. One of those boxes a girl in Africa had received, and she wrote back to that particular girl and just described herself and told her a little about her life and thanked us very much for sending that box to her. For some, it's not only the gifts that make it all worthwhile, it's the idea of spreading Christmas cheer and the gospel. Our owner of our company is really big on spreading the gospel around the world, and so that's why he felt it was a good organization to get connected with. Operation Christmas Child's National Collection Week will be held the week of November 14th through the 21st. With this week's community spotlight in Bemidji, I'm Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. And for more information about Operation Christmas Child drop-off locations, you can visit SamaritanPers.org. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.