Since Oct. 1, members of the United Methodist Church have collected gifts for children in shoeboxes and plastic containers.

On Nov. 13, volunteers loaded 72 boxes and took them to the United Methodist Church in Lexington. From there, they will be sent to kids all over the world as part of Operation Christmas Child.

“We tend to forget during the holidays that there are other children out there,” said Becky Boson, who spearheaded the effort along with Alice Peters and Sheila Jobman. “If not for this, they probably wouldn’t have a Christmas gift to open.”

In the boxes, Boson said Methodists, people from other churches and some community members placed crayons, coloring pencils, toys, toothpaste, dolls, socks and more.

Each container included a pamphlet about what was needed.

Boson said the church has done the project for several years.

“It’s a good feeling to know that you are part of making a child’s Christmas nice,” she said.