Helping provide Christmas to children everywhere

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Busy volunteers do some behind-the-scenes work for Santa.

Members of Family Worship Center in Terre Haute take part in an international effort, by making up hundreds of shoe boxes for kids.

"Toys and there is toothpaste, a notebook, pencils, paper," Volunteer Sam Barnett said.

"Some of these children will never have received a gift in their lives. So just to be able to give them something this Christmas will make a big difference," Coordinator TK Wilson said.

Operation Christmas Child started up in 1993, helping kids in different places around the globe.

"These children only get one box in their lifetime.  Because there's so many children in the world, they won't go back to that area for another 12 years," Church Coordinator Jenny Wilson said.

From Terre Haute alone, about 2,000 boxes will be given to kids in North Carolina.

"I'm happy that they're going to the people that need help, that are going to be able to get Christmas presents this year," Barnett said.

Since the program started, together, volunteers nationwide will give more than 100 million boxes.

"Oh it's everything. Yea, I hope I live long enough if God wants me to, maybe I can go one of these countries and hand a box out. That would be my goal," Jenny Wilson said.

"They're helping to change the world, and God's doing it through children, and just to be apart of that, I am so excited," Wilson said.

Giving the spirit of Christmas to so many.

"The theme of this is the power of a simple gift, and what this simple gift can do all over the country, is amazing."

You have until noon Monday to drop a gift box off.

Drop-off locations are below:

Family Worship Center

• 2901 S 7th Street
• Terre Haute, IN  47803

Oregon Baptist Church

• 11200 S Carlisle Street
• Terre Haute, IN  47802

You can also go to Samaritan's Purse to help with shipping.