BOUNTIFUL — Stores are already putting out Christmas cards, wrap and decorations, so even though to many it seems too early to get into the holiday spirit, it isn’t.

Especially to help thousands of kids worldwide have a joyous Christmas.

Again this year, the First Southern Baptist Church of Bountiful, 696 N. 400 East, Bountiful and Grace Lutheran Church, 835 N. Main, Bountiful, will be providing shoe boxes filled with small gifts and toys as part of Operation Christmas Child, an international ministry which provides Christmas to children who may not otherwise receive a Christmas gift.

Members of both churches will take boxes collected to Calvary Chapel in Salt Lake County, the state’s drop-off location, on Nov. 21, according to Jan Barking, who coordinates the Baptist church’s participation.

Those in the community who wish to participate may drop their box off at either church before noon on Nov. 21.

In addition to boxes filled by individuals and families, Barking said the church’s women’s ministry gets together to share items, fill boxes and have a fun time in the process.

For more information on the project, call Barking at 801-295-4747.

Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse, ships shoe boxes filled with gifts to children throughout the world.

Grace Lutheran’s members have participated in the project for several years, under the leadership of Sue Zawalski.

This year, many participants there will take a box provided by Samaritan’s Purse to fill, but donors may also take a regular shoe box and wrap it in holiday gift wrap. Organizers ask that those who decide to do this, wrap the lid separately, so the contents can be examined before being shipped on.

Participants are asked to fill the box with school supplies, toys, hygiene items, and hard candies and mark them by age 2-4 years, 5-9 and 10-14.

They ask that no damaged items, war-related items, chocolate or food, out-of-date candy, liquids or lotions, medications, vitamins or breakable items be included.

Each donor is asked to donate $7 or more for each prepared box to help cover shipping and other costs. A donation envelope is available at either church. or online through the program’s EZ Give at wwwsamaritanspurse.org.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com