When the local Operation Christmas Child box drop-off site opens Monday, hundreds of shoebox-sized gift packages will arrive from individuals and churches. The First United Methodist Church in Great Bend plans to deliver 114 or more, said Jann Sherman, who is organizing the project at her church.

Operation Christmas Child has volunteers fill boxes with gifts for needy children around the world to receive as Christmas presents. First United Methodist Church members started working on the project last September.

Wednesday night, volunteers set up an assembly line in the Stephen Ministries Room, which was filled with colorful shoeboxes to fold into shape and items to place in each box – washcloths and toothbrushes and socks, pencils and erasers, as well as small toys and other fun items. They could make boxes for boys or girls of different ages. Volunteer Sharon Anglemyer noted that the boxes won’t be sealed at the church because they go through an inspection further down the line.

The church had two workshops earlier in the year where old T-shirts were cut into cloth strips and braided to make colorful jump ropes. Volunteers from grade-school age to 90 years old worked on the project. One jump rope went into each box and any extras will be given to children at the church-sponsored Noah’s Ark Preschool.

Virtually the entire congregation at First UMC has gotten involved in Operation Christmas Child, Sherman said. Some members prepared boxes at home or donated items to add to the assembly line, while other donated money to help with shipping costs.