By Esther Cruz
Staff Writer

The American Marketing Association Chapter at Cal State Dominguez Hills has teamed up with the Samaritan’s Purse Organization to bring hope and joy to children around the world this holiday season.
Samaritan’s Purse, the world’s largest Christmas gift-giving charity, is hosting it’s thirteenth-annual Operation Christmas Child project. For the initiative, participants fill shoeboxes with Christmas gifts, which are then delivered to children in need around the globe.
Since it’s inception, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries.
Along with traditional gifts like toys and soccer balls, Operation Christmas Child asks donors to fill their shoeboxes with necessities, including hygienic products, crafts, clothing and accessories such as T-shirts, hats, and hairclips, and school supplies, all of which are not easily obtained in many of the places these children live. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they ever receive.
Last year, over 11.5 million gift boxes were donated.
This year, AMA has started its own toy drive on-campus to contribute to the project, with the goal of reaching 50 boxes.
AMA has set up a drop-off box outside of the ASI office in the Loker Student Union for those interested in donating gifts. The program runs through Nov. 15th.
For more information, including how to donate, stop by the ASI Office, or visit samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/.