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Keith Edgerton and Jaylynn Faughn stand next to a car loaded with shoeboxes to donate to Operation Christmas Child

FTCC softball player Jaylynn Faughn and coach Keith Edgerton stand next to the team’s donated shoeboxes of gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

The Fayetteville Tech softball team got an early start on spreading holiday cheer last week when they donated shoeboxes to Stedman PH Church’s Operation Christmas Child.

“We at FTCC softball realize how fortunate we are to play a game we love and have the many comforts that others only dream of,” coach Keith Edgerton said. “We consider it a privilege to help others experience a little joy hopefully. We are honored to have the opportunity to share.”

The Trojans donated 20 shoeboxes Friday for OCC, an outreach project of Samaritan’s Purse International Relief.

Samaritan’s Purse began Operation Christmas Child in 1993 and has since donated shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items to more than 178 million children worldwide.

Stedman PH Church has participated in OCC for more than a decade. Kasie Clevidence is the church’s OCC coordinator.

“I would like to send out a huge thank you to Coach Keith Edgerton and the FTCC Trojans softball team for participating in the Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive for 2020,” Clevidence said. “They donated 20 shoeboxes to help children all over the world experience what it’s like to receive a Christmas gift.”