BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Charity Maestas and her students at First Baptist Church Child Development Center packed up seven boxes to donate to Operation Christmas Child.

Director Megan Franklin said the students “learned that these boxes will go all around the world to children who may not have a home, food or toys. We also prayed for each child who will receive one of these boxes.”

First Baptist Church is once again serving as a drop-off location for the shoeboxes. The drop-offs will be accepted through Nov. 21. The church also has boxes available for pick-up that can be filled with items. If you don’t want to fill a shoebox, you can donate $7 toward the shipping cost of a box.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

For more information about the program, visit samaritanspurse.org.