First United Methodist Church in Clanton is seeking items to stuff in stockings for the annual Stockings for Soldiers.

The event ships Christmas stockings prepared by people in Chilton County to soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Event organizer Stephanie Gibson first came up with the idea when her son Chad was stationed in Iraq several years ago.

Gibson wanted to send him a stocking at Christmastime and after sharing her idea with several others in the community, she soon had more than 400 stockings being shipped to soldiers from people in Chilton County.

Now, Gibson’s son Chad is back in Chilton County after being wounded in Afghanistan but Gibson is planning to continue the event with the hopes more stockings will be sent this year.

“Even though my son is home, we still do this because we know that there is still a war going on,” Gibson said. “There are still men and women who will be away from their families at Christmas, and we want them to know they are not forgotten and that the Lord loves them.”

Gibson said the church is currently accepting items for the stockings with the cut off date for items Nov. 26.

“We have to have enough time to ship them overseas so they will be there in time for Christmas,” Gibson said.

Items acceptable for the stockings can be beef jerky, candy, gum, trail mix, decks of cards, stocking hats (dark colors), Bible verses, Christmas cards, disposable cameras, toothbrushes and anything else that would fit in a stocking.

Items not allowed in the stockings are liquids, glass and aerosol cans.

Gibson said anyone wishing to donate items should drop them off at First United Methodist Church Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The office at the church is closed from noon-1 p.m. each day for lunch.

Gibson said stockings that have been stuffed with items will also be accepted and can be dropped off at the church as well.

For more information or to volunteer to stuff some of the stockings, contact Gibson at 755-8270.