People are used to seeing a university campus rally around a sports team and strive to achieve academic goals, but this year Appalachian State decided to unite to provide holiday gifts for children around the world. Students, faculty and staff at Appalachian State University have started a movement to support the efforts of Samaritans Purse's Operation Christmas Child - the Boone-based relief operation that collects and distributes Christmas gifts to millions of disadvantaged children around the world. Last Tuesday night's ASU men's basketball game kicked off the four days of collections at ASU. Volunteers were also on hand at the final regular season home football game against Western Carolina on Saturday. 

To learn more about Operation Christmas Child and how to pack a shoe box, go to www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC or call 262-1980.