Before or after you make your way to the polls today, take a moment to stop by Chick-fil-A and vote for hope.

Volunteers at Suffolk’s two Chick-fil-A restaurants will be handing out Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. The ministry of Samaritan’s Purse sends millions of the gift-filled shoeboxes to poverty-stricken and war-torn areas of the globe every year.

Picking up an empty box or two will be a wonderful way to step away from the hyper-political atmosphere that will consume the rest of the day here in the Old Dominion. Filling it with gifts and sending it back, knowing it may be the only Christmas gift a child ever receives, will fill you with a satisfaction that will last longer than the newly elected governor’s term.

I have packed a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child the last several years. Going shopping for the school supplies, hygiene items, toys and other things to put in the box is one of my favorite days of the year. I always over-buy, however, and as a result I have become quite good at the strategic packing that becomes necessary. Fitting all the items in the box is my second-favorite part of the process — the first, of course, being that a child will learn about the love of Jesus Christ through the gift.

After you pick up a shoebox today, you can return it at the same restaurant on Nov. 12. After that, three local churches — Suffolk Christian Church, Nansemond River Baptist Church and South Quay Baptist Church — will also collect boxes at various times Nov. 18-25. See my story that starts on page 1 for more information about the program and when you can drop off boxes. And if you find yourself with too much stuff to fit in the box, give me a call. I can help.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.