It’s that time of year again. No, we’re not talking about the holidays. It’s Operation Christmas Child time. Each November, communities are encouraged to pack shoebox-sized containers with small, inexpensive items that just may change a life. Columbus serves as an area collection center for the Samaritan’s Purse ministry that distributes the boxes throughout the year to children around the globe. National Collection Week is Nov. 17-24.

“We’d love to bring in 35,000 boxes this year,” said Nelda Brown, area coordinator for relay centers in an 11-county territory Columbus receives boxes from. It includes the Golden Triangle and nearby counties, including Noxubee, Monroe, Webster and Winston. In November 2013, the center took in right at 30,000 boxes.

What to put inside

Boxes — cardboard or plastic — can be packed with small toys such as toy cars, stuffed animals, harmonicas, jump ropes or dolls. School supplies are suggested, including pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, solar calculators, coloring or picture books. Toothbrushes, bar soap, combs and washcloths are welcome items, as are hair accessories and costume jewelry.

A personal note to a child and a photo of yourself or your family are encouraged. If you include your name and address, the recipient may be able to write back.

Avoid war-related toys such as toy guns or knives, chocolates or food, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins and any breakable items.

Labels to designate whether a box is for a girl or boy, and what age category it is suitable for (2-4, 5-9 or 10-14) can be printed out at samaritanspurse.org. Additional item suggestions and more about the non-denominational Christian humanitarian organization can also be found there.

A donation of $7 per box is requested to help defray costs of shipping and distribution. Enclose a check made out to Samaritan’s Purse, with OCC on the memo line, in an envelope inside the box, or contribute online to be able to track your box to its destination. Brown received emails alerting her to six different countries her boxes went to last year.

“Shoeboxes can be packed by everyone, from the very young to the very old,” said Brown. “They are easy and inexpensive and can change a life for eternity. There have been new churches built in remote villages from a child receiving a shoebox gift.”

Children ages 2 to 4 at Main Street Christian School at Main Street Presbyterian Church delivered their packed boxes to First Baptist Church Wednesday. First Baptist acts as the host church in Columbus to Samaritan’s Purse.

“They get it,” said Main Street teacher Gaines Gaskin. “They get a sense of giving to someone, and we talk about how thankful we are for what we have and that all children don’t live like we do. Some may not even have a toothbrush, or soap to bathe with.”

Boxes from the Columbus Collection Center will be processed in Atlanta and distributed to children in a list of countries that includes Dominica, India, Jamaica, Chad, and South Sudan.

Collection hours

Boxes may be dropped off Nov. 17-24 at the Columbus Collection Center located in the Boy Scout Hut at the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market site, at Second Avenue and Second Street North. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1-3 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Relay center drop-off locations in other towns can be found at samaritanspurse.org.

“We’d love to have more volunteers,” said Brown about helpers needed at the Columbus center. “I would invite anyone who wants to come down to join us for the fellowship and to learn more about it.”

Samaritan’s Purse hopes to reach more than 10 million children with the boxes, Brown added. “Operation Christmas Child is the largest children’s evangelical outreach in the world,” she said. “A small shoebox can make a difference.”

For more information, contact the host church, First Baptist, at 662-328-3915.

Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.