The drop-off sites for this year’s Operation Christmas Child charitable project will include Verbena Baptist Church and the Church at Bethel in Thorsby.

This is the second year that Verbena Baptist will serve as a drop-off location, although the church has been associated with the project for the past 20 years.

“It’s just graduated up over that time,” said Frank Hayes, involved with the ministry at Verbena Baptist. “It has worked real well.”

According to Hayes, about 250 boxes were collected a year ago.

Last year the crew that helped with the project was given the opportunity to help sort and pack the donated items for shipping.

“There’s a real meaning behind it,” Hayes said. “It has changed our lives, as well as those who receive the boxes.”

Hayes has been fully involved with the project at Verbena Baptist along with his wife, every since the two retired five years ago.

The primary focus this year is to get the kids and teens of the church more involved and aware of the organization.

Hayes wants the youth to be aware that they are not alone in this world, and that people do not have to be standing in front of them in order to be suffering.

“You get an opportunity to appeal to the needs that people have,” Hayes said.

Residents looking to get involved are asked to donate shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items, fun toys and notes of encouragement.

The boxes will be collected during National Collection Week from Nov. 14-Nov. 21 and then sent to the Church at Bethel where they will be gathered and sent to a warehouse for proper sorting and shipment.

For more information or questions call (205) 908-2067 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.