Operation Christmas Child will open drop-off locations throughout southcentral Kentucky this month, but many groups have already started filling the shoeboxes with small gifts.

Operation Christmas Child is part of the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. People can bring shoeboxes filled with toys, hygiene items and school supplies to various locations through Nov. 21. They can use regular or plastic shoeboxes. A $7 donation should be included to help defray the cost of international shipping. Shoeboxes can be designated for a boy or girl ages 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child.

The Bowling Green location is Christ United Methodist Church at 716 Cave Mill Road. The organizers are Paulette Wells and her husband, Larry.

“The shoeboxes are sent to children in areas of the world that are affected by natural disaster, war and poverty,” Wells said. “Since 1993, between 135 million children in more than 150 countries have received shoeboxes.”

Wells said she and her family saw an idea of deflating a soccer ball and enclosing a pump into a shoebox.

“It intrigued me. We did that and it was fun,” she said. “Use your imagination. See what you can fit in that shoebox. Have fun. The idea is that you’re sending something that a child has never seen and you’re sharing God’s love that way.”

While Warren County is no longer the central location for churches in the region, Wells believes they will still receive a lot of shoeboxes.

“We’re told that over 8,000 were donated at the relay center that was here last year, but that involved surrounding counties,” she said. “This year, almost all the surrounding counties have a location. They told us to expect 4,000 shoeboxes.”

Hours for Christ United Methodist Church’s shoebox drop-off will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 13; 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and Nov. 17-18; 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 16 and Nov. 19; 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 20; 8 to 11 a.m. Nov. 21.

Peggy Allen is co-chairwoman for Barren County’s Operation Christmas Child drop-off site at Southside Baptist Church at 1163 Trojan Trail in Glasgow. 

“Las year we did not have a relay center in Barren County. We were asked if we were willing to serve in that role. This is our first year for being a relay church, so we’re not sure how many churches will participate this year,” she said. “We’re looking forward to it. We’re very excited.”

The shoeboxes collected at Southside will be taken to Franklin before going to Boone, N.C., Allen said.

“They have volunteers from different sites from throughout the country who go through each shoebox to make sure there’s nothing harmful or leaking,” she said. “They are repacked and sent around the world.”

The literature in each shoebox tells about Christ, Allen said.

“There are a lot of folks who would be wanting to do mission work in other countries, but can’t,” she said. “This is a way to contribute to mission work around the world.”

Allen hears about how others do their shoeboxes.

“A lot of folks work on their shoeboxes throughout the year,” she said. “It’s interesting to hear all those stories and watch the videos on the website.”

Allen also enjoys watching the videos about the children who receive the gifts.

Hours for Southside Baptist Church’s shoebox drop-offs are from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 14-15; 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 16; 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 17-18; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19; 3 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20; and 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 21.

Other area drop-off sites include:

•First Baptist Church at 303 E. Cedar St. in Franklin drop-offs are from 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 14-18; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 19-20; and 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 21.

•Gasper River Association of Baptist at 530 Helm Lane in Morgantown drop-offs are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14-18; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19; 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 20; and 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 21.

•New Vision Community Church at 111 McDougal St. in Russellville drop-offs are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14-15; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 17 and Nov. 20; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18; and 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 19 and Nov. 21.

•Scottsville Baptist Church at 301 E. Main St. drop-offs are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14-18; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19; 12:30 to 6 p.m. Nov. 20; and 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 21.

– Follow features reporter Alyssa Harvey on Twitter @bgdnfeatures or visit bgdailynews.com.