BY MELINDA WILLIAMS

Clipper Staff Writer

BOUNTIFUL — It’s not even Halloween yet,and many think it’s too early to think about Christmas.

But kids worldwide will have Christmas this year thanks to the annual Operation Christmas Child and South Davis residents from at least three area churches will have a hand in it.

The First Southern Baptist Church of Bountiful, 696 N. 400 East, is serving as an official relay center again this year.

In addition to the First Southern Baptist Church, Grace Lutheran Church and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection will be participating this year.

Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse, ships shoe boxes filled with gifts to children throughout the world, and if you think it’s too early to think about Christmas, the organization’s national collection week is Nov. 16-23, according to Jan Barking with the First Southern Baptist Church. “It’s not too early. We have many people who like to gather a few items over time.”

Barking said the children are thrilled to get the gifts, even though they aren’t big or expensive.

Members of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection are inviting the community to join them by picking up a box or two from the church and filling them. Those picking up boxes can drop the filled boxes off, either at the Episcopal Church 1131 S. Main in Centerville, or at the First Southern Baptist Church.

Members of Grace Lutheran Church will also fill boxes, as they have for several years.

Kids, families, church groups, school, civic organizations and businesses can join in the effort.

Organizers of Operation Christmas Child separate boxes into those for boys and girls, and by ages ranging from 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14 years of age.

Participants are asked to fill a shoe box with school supplies, toys, hygiene items, and hard candies. Those who wish, may also include a separate note to the child and a photo.

They ask that no damaged items, war-related items, chocolate or food, out-of-date candy, liquids or lotions, medications, vitamins or breakable items be included.

The box may be gift-wrapped or donated as is, but if it is gift-wrapped, organizers ask that the lid be wrapped separately, so each box can be examined before it is shipped.

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

Operation Christmas Child began in the United States in 1993 with 28,000 shoe box gifts.

Since that time, the kids-helping-kids project has collected more than 61 million shoe box gifts and hand-delivered them to needy children in some 130 countries, including: hurting children stricken by poverty in war-ravaged Sudan (2007); children in war-torn Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries (2006); young survivors of the horrific tsunami in Southeast Asia (2005); school children attacked by terrorists in Beslan, Russia (2004); and children in Honduras and Nicaragua left homeless by Hurricane Mitch (1998).

Those who would like more information may call the church at 292-8095, or to find out more about Operation Christmas Child, go to its website at occinfo@samaritan.org.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com