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SOUTHINGTON -- Local churches and organizations have been busy preparing shoeboxes filled with toys and other items to be delivered to children worldwide as part of Operation Christmas Child, which is a project of Samaritan's Purse.
CoAnn Osmon, of Southington, who is the coordinator for the local Operation Christmas Child project at Southington Christian Church alongside Judy Elston, said many local churches and organizations have been hosting packing and collection days.
"We have people who come here and fill a box with items or they make a donation to help," Osmon said.
The shoeboxes indicate if the box is for a boy or a girl up to age 14.
Osmon, who has been a coordinator for two years, said Samaritan's Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, stuffed animals, gloves, sunglasses, school supplies and hygiene items such as toothbrushes and soap for children around the world.
Osmon said a special note and drawing also is included in the box from local children and adults who help package the items. Local children also take a picture of themselves and include information about themselves inside the box. They also include questions for the receiver.
"We hope to learn more about the child who receives a box," Elston said.
Yvonne Woodworth, OCC area coordinator for northeast Ohio, said since 1993, more than 209 million children in more than 170 countries have received an OCC shoebox.
Woodworth said every year, National Collection Week takes place the third week in November when more than 4,500 dropoff locations open across the country. This year, National Collection Week starts Monday and runs through Nov. 20.
"I am so happy when people come here and help box," Osmon said. "Everyone can bring their boxes in this week. When we have them all, we put them in big boxes and place them in a truck."
She said the Southington church wants to get more than 100 boxes this year.
Osmon said in 2022, 1,525 boxes were packed and shipped out from the regional area. The church is a dropoff site.
Osmon said there is a scanable code on the boxes that keeps track of where each one goes.
Her relative, Jack Elston, brings the truck for OCC and then drives the boxes from the Southington church to another location that then takes them to a large collection site.
Matthew Brobst, pastor of the Southington church, said, "We have a core group of women here who are passionate about Operation Christmas Child. The work that they do is amazing since the boxes are sent throughout the whole world."
He said OCC also is a way that the message of the love of Jesus is spread throughout the world.
"The boxes are not just sent out at Christmas, but all-year round," Brobst said. "The children who receive them often have never had a Christmas gift from anyone. It is a huge thing for them, and they are so happy."
He said boxes are sent to Ukraine and taken to orphanage or villages.
"They are sent to many parts of the United States," Brobst said.
Debra Buckel, of West Farmington, who helps with OCC for many local churches, said groups and churches in Ashtabula and Trumbull counties are participating as part of northeast Ohio region. The Western Reserve region includes Portage, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
"This area got so large it was separated into two groups," she said.
Buckel said all boxes go to Wildare Church in Champion before being transferred out of the area.
Dropoff sites also are in Orwell, Jefferson and Columbiana.
"The fact is this keeps growing because we reach out to more children and communities in the world. The shoeboxes filled with items is the first time many of the children receive a gift," Buckel said, noting she helps raise money for the collection at a sale over Labor Day weekend.
She said people should feel blessed with what they have and know that OCC makes a difference for children throughout the world.