LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Staff writer

The 2012 Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry is underway.  Churches, civic groups and many other groups and individuals are filling boxes for children all around the world.

In 2011, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, brought joy and hope to 8 million children worldwide through simple gift-filled shoeboxes and evangelistic materials.

The Laurel County shoebox collection is in its fourth year.  Last year, 2,915 boxes were collected in Laurel County.

The goal this year is to collect 3,500 boxes.

All shoeboxes will be collected from November 12 to 19.  Shoe boxes can be dropped off at the Laurel County Relay Center at 70 Monty Dr., London, Ky.  

The center is open Monday, Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 13  from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.;  Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.;  Friday, Nov. 16  from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 17 from 1 p.m.- 6 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 18 from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 19 from 11 – 1 p.m. Open hours on November 19 are subject to change.

To participate, you should empty a shoebox, choose whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl and choose the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14 years.   

The box can be filled with any number of items, including school supplies, small toys, hygiene products or hard candy. There is no minimum or maximum to be spent on items for a shoebox, but individuals are asked to donate $7 per shoebox to offset shipping costs, although it is not required.

Do not include damaged or used items, war-related toys, chocolate, medicines or lotions. For further instructions, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC and click on “How to Pack a Shoebox.”  

Labels for gender and age can also be downloaded from the website. Labels should be taped to the top of each box.

All boxes must be turned in to the local collection center from November 12 to 19.

For more information, contact Kathy Huff at 864-2415 or Nancy Perkins at 878-9759.