WATERLOO - Think inside the box to help needy children this season.

Volunteers are collecting shoeboxes filled with gifts to ship around the world for Operation Christmas Child. It's an annual holiday project of Samaritan's Purse, the international Christian relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham.

Through Monday, Hammond Avenue Brethren Church, 1604 Hammond Ave. is a regional drop-off site for the shoeboxes, which are stuffed with hygiene products, school supplies and toys.

Christian literature also accompanies gifts.

Lisa Thompson helped rally her congregation at Amity Presbyterian Church in Reinbeck to pack 20 boxes.

"Basically, it's whoever wants to stay after church on Sunday and become an elf," Thompson said, laughing.

Parishioners chipped in cash for the $7 shipping cost per box. Others donated supplies. Each box, tailored for either a boy or girl, was equipped with toothpaste, a toothbrush, a washcloth, bar soap, toys, hair accessories, socks, a book, a note pad, a pencil sharpener, pencils, a stuffed animal and hard candy.

"We try to get them as full as we can," Thompson said. "We figure as long as we've gone to the effort, we just as well fill the box up."

Amity church has participated at least the past three years, Thompson said, chipping in 10 boxes the first year, 17 last year and now 20 this year. Last year Waterloo and surrounding areas brought in nearly 1,700 boxes.

"Each year it grows," said Carolyn Waters, the Waterloo drop-off site coordinator. "People get more excited about it. It's a wonderful ministry."

Dubbed the world's largest Christmas project, the United States and 10 other countries distributed 7.6 million boxes last year, Waters said. This year's goal is 8 million. Since 1993, more than 61 million boxes have been delivered in some 130 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.

And the more, the better, Waters said. More countries are opening up to receiving the gifts.

Denise Truax and her son, Dan Frost, of La Porte City brought in two boxes Tuesday. The idea of helping a child was heart-warming, Truax said.

"I just wanted to do it," she said. "That's it. When you can, you got to do what you can."

The project is perfect for individuals, families, scout groups, community groups and businesses, Waters said.

From Waterloo, the shoe boxes will be inspected and prepared for overseas shipment in Minneapolis, one of six processing centers across the United States. Volunteers make sure content is appropriate and evenly distributed.

The boxes are then sent using whatever means necessary - sea containers, trucks, buses, trains, airplanes, helicopters, boats, camels and even dog sleds.

Waters will be among nearly 15 members from the Hammond church to volunteer in Minneapolis on Dec. 8.

"It's just, you see the picture of that little girl over there with that box," Waters said, pointing to a display. "Many of these children have never ever received a gift. They're as happy with school supplies as they are the toys, they say. They just bubble over."

Contact Tina Hinz at (319) 291-1484 or tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com.