LA MIRADA, Calif.--- All eight Golden State Athletic Conference schools, and the conference office, joined efforts to contribute over 300 shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child last month.

The student-athletes and administrators at each school worked throughout November to gather and donate supplies for the shoeboxes, and each school dropped off its gift-filled boxes to local donation centers, such as the La Habra Marketplace Chick-fil-a.

"This has been a tradition for many years in my family," said GSAC Commissioner Mike Daniels. "I was happy to bring this venture to the conference and have so many athletes take part. I was able to see some of the personal notes written by our student-athletes to these kids and it just reminds me of why we do what we do."

This is the first time the conference as a whole has put its efforts toward an act of service in this way. The individual efforts of each of the institutions involves supports the NAIA's Champions of Character initiatives and values. More information on the Champions of Character can be found.

Each varsity athletic program at Biola contributed at least one box to the cause. The boxes were filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and money to ship them. Once at designated drop-off locations, Samaritan's Purse, the organization that organizes the Operation Christmas Child efforts, delivers the packages to needy children around the world.

Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Concordia led all the GSAC schools with 122 total boxes collected. The university ran its own donation drive, with the institution collecting 282 total boxes. More information on Samaritan's Purse cane be foundand more on the GSAC is.