It's hard to imagine a Fayette

County child getting excited about a shoe box filled with a pack of crayons,

a pad of paper, small toys and a toothbrush and toothpaste for Christmas,

but thousands of boys and girls living in desperate circumstances around

the world would be thrilled.

With 900 boxes already packed

into a semi-trailer parked at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville

and hundreds more gifts stacking up in churches all over the county for

Operation Christmas Child, this holiday season promises to be a little

bit brighter for many children who would otherwise be left empty-handed.

The trailer is filled with

boxes from New Hope families, and additional donations from area churches

are expected in the coming weeks. Individuals may also prepare a box and

drop it off at the gazebo on the square in Fayetteville on Saturday, Nov.

25 and Sat., Dec. 2 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

According to Sharon Shank,

who is coordinating Operation Christmas Child, the project is not just

about reaching children with gift-filled shoeboxes. "It's about sharing

the good news of Jesus Christ with them through Christian literature distributed

with the shoeboxes," Shank explained.

This project of Christian relief

and evangelism is part of Samaritan's Purse, a nonprofit organization

chaired by Franklin Graham with headquarters in Boone, N.C.

To take part in this very personal

Christmas activity, wrap an empty shoe box with holiday wrap, keeping

the lid separate from the rest of the box.

"Decide whether your gift

will be for a boy or girl and their age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.

Mark the box with the age and gender," Shank said. "You may

enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family."

Enclosing a check for $5 payable

to Samaritan's Purse is also suggested to defray the cost of shipping

and handling, Shank noted. Once the box is filled, wrap it with an elastic

band and deliver it to the gazebo.

Suggested gifts include toys

such as small cars, balls, stuffed animals, yo-yos; school supplies like

pencils, paper, coloring books, markers, hygiene items such as toothbrushes,

soap, toothpaste and combs, or miscellaneous items such as hard candy,

hair-clips, socks, gum, flashlights, etc.

Do not include any war-related

toys such as guns or knives, perishable items, liquids, used items, medicines,

or breakables.

Persons wishing to volunteer

at the gazebo may phone Linda at 770-964-0337 or Sharon at 678-776-8019

to take collections at the truck.

The Atlanta Operation Christmas

Child Processing Center in Marietta prepares all the shoeboxes from the

area for shipment overseas, Hours of operation are Nov. 18 through Dec.

8 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Volunteers from seventh grade age and above are needed.

Phone 770-690-9640 to volunteer.