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Church Collects Thousands of Boxes to Save Holiday Cheer

MOOSIC — Operation Christmas Child is in its 12th year at the Moosic Alliance Church and organizers almost have it down to a science. There are 2,100 boxe...

MOOSIC -- Operation Christmas Child is in its 12th year at the Moosic Alliance Church and organizers almost have it down to a science.

There are 2,100 boxes and that number grows every day.

The church is one of several locations collecting shoeboxes for those less fortunate.

"These kids have nothing at all so they just treasure everything they get it's really interesting to see," said organizer Linda King.

Organizers are expecting to send out a record 12,000 boxes from our area, part of a national program that expects to give out 12 million.

Of course, they're not just shoe boxes. They're filled with toys, soap, hard candy, and school supplies.

"In many countries, kids can't go to school if they don't have school supplies and when they get their school supplies, that's very important to them," said King.

The boxes will be given to children around the world.

"We have a missionary in Thailand that gets boxes and uses them with the children in Thailand. They go all over the world, any country," said King.

Lorraine Goeringer has been volunteering for the past six years. She says it's the opportunity to put a smile on a child's face that keeps her coming back year after year.

"Just to realize that you are doing something for so many children that's important. You really can't have an opportunity to do a lot of things for other people but you can do something," said Goeringer.

Several area sites will serve as drop-off locations for shoebox gift donations open all week. For a complete list of all drop-off locations, searchable by zip code, click here.

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