Operation Christmas Child will get underway on Monday when the Selma Baptist Association starts collecting shoeboxes filled with goodies.

Those shoeboxes will then be sent to less fortunate children across the world.

Operation Christmas Child is a project put on by Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian organization that provides to people in need. Since starting in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 135 million shoeboxes to children in 150 different countries.

The shoeboxes are filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. Last year, Sandra Canterbury, Relay Center Coordinator for the Selma Baptist Association, said more than 3,000 shoeboxes were donated in Selma.

The holidays are a time for family and a chance to be thankful for the people in our lives. In just a few weeks, Americans will rush to stores on Black Friday for all sorts of bargains.

But others aren’t as unfortunate.

It’s always nice to give back to someone who could use extra help, but it feels even more special during the holidays. Every child deserves to have a happy holiday season and Operation Christmas Child makes that happen for thousands of youth each year.

If you want to find a way to help out this year, participating in Operation Christmas Child is a great place to do so.

Boxes can be dropped off at the Selma Baptist Association, located at 2193 Broad Street, from Monday, Nov. 14 to Monday, Nov. 21. For more information, contact the Selma Baptist Association at 872-1640 or visit www.samaritanpurse.org/occ.