Gifts and goodies jammed inside a space meant to house a pair of shoes are destined for children living in third world countries — and for most, it will be the only Christmas the youngsters will experience.
“Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered 114 million shoeboxes to children,” said Hester Pitts, who is the area coordinator for the outreach program that is sponsored by the Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief and evangelism organization led by Franklin Graham, son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham.
Warren County has been designated, as one of the many relay centers for the shoeboxes filled with gifts, and this year the goal is to reach 5,000 boxes, Pitts said.
All of the schools, churches and civic organizations have been contacted and encouraged to participate with Operation Christmas Child, she said. “Last year we collected 4,400 shoeboxes.”
Any type of shoebox can be used, but the plastic containers keep longer and the children can use them to hold their food rationings, Pitts said.

“So many times in third world countries the children have to stand in long feeding lines and a plastic shoebox makes it easier for them to hold the food,” she said.
Pitts recalled a story she had heard about a young boy, who was so frail, when he was given his ration of milk it spilled on the ground.
“I was told the little boy got down and was lapping it up,” she said.
On Wednesday night, Pitts spoke with children at First Baptist Church as they filled shoeboxes with presents and supplies for Operation Christmas Child.
“I told the children that in some countries if kids don’t have school supplies they can’t go to school,” she said.
Pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, coloring books and writing pads are some of the suggested items to include in the shoebox.
“We also ask people to include hygiene products like tooth brushes and tooth paste,” Pitts said.
“All of the children receive a stuffed animal,” she said, and for the girls dolls are good to include and for boys cars and balls.
Flashlights and batteries are also popular items for the boxes, Pitts said, since the children are from countries where electricity is scarce.
To make the Christmas boxes personal, Pitts said the children participating on Wednesday night were also writing notes that would be tucked inside the boxes.
“I encouraged them to put ‘I love you’ on the notes,” Pitts said.
Operation Christmas Child boxes are delivered to children in more than 130 countries, but Pitts did not know what country would receive the boxes packaged in Warren County.
National Collection Week will be Nov. 17 through 23 and locals are asked to drop their boxes off at the First Baptist Family Life Center, 1607 Cherry St.

Pitts said, boxes and lids should be wrapped separately and then secured together with a rubber band. A label stating “boy” or “girl” and the age group — 2 to 4, 5 to 9 or 10 to 14 should also be attached to the box.
A dedication service for the Christmas boxes is scheduled for Nov. 23 at noon at First Baptist Church.
Items suggested for the Christmas boxes also include candy, mints, gum, ball caps, socks, soap combs, washcloths, harmonicas, yo-yos, T-shirts, toy jewelry and picture books.
Boxes should not include toy guns, knives or other war related items, perishable food items, liquids of any kind, medicines of any kind and or breakables.
• Collection hours:
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Nov. 17 and 19
Noon to 4 p.m. — Nov. 18 and 20
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Nov. 21
10 to 11 a.m. — Nov. 22
8 to 10:30 a.m. — Nov. 23
For more information, call 601-636-2493.