The idea is pretty simple — fill a shoebox with small gifts that will then be transported to one of 100 countries around the globe to a child in need.

“Last year our collection site got 7,459 boxes, including boxes from collection sites that drop off at ours from Corry, Bradford and Emporium,” Wendy Carrington, central drop off team leader, said. “I am hopeful that our totals will reach that number and go beyond.”

Pleasant Community has a goal of 600. And the time to get those wrapped up and turned in is approaching.

Drop off hours are set for this week from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each evening, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday.

Photo provided to the Times Observer Iris Kiehl, left, and Shirley Petko pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child at Pleasant Community Church recently. The church, 673 Pleasant Dr., is a drop-off location for the effort.

Carrington has been involved in the effort for nearly 20 years.

“I loved the idea and offered the opportunity to my students at school,” she said. “Of course, it wasn’t a requirement for my students to participate, but I loved teaching my students about giving at Christmas time.”

It’s also an important ministry at Pleasant Community.

“Our church finds it a prominent ministry because it is a wonderful mission,” she explained. “We can see how impactful it is through stories shared with us and the communication we have seen from recipients of boxes.

‘We love doing this in our community, too! It’s fun to see all of these churches come together to touch so many lives, especially children overseas that we may have never had the opportunity to meet or disciple.”

This isn’t just a “send it and forget about it” proposition, either.

“When we send our boxes, the labels have QR codes,” Carrington explained. “Once they are distributed, every person that uses those codes to track their boxes receives an email telling them the country where their gifts were given out.

“It’s pretty fun to learn about the countries, too, since the email also comes with a link to learn about the locations! We have labels with QR codes at Pleasant Community Church if anyone wants to track their boxes!”

All of the details for how to get involved with the effort can be found samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/.

Anyone looking to pack a box can contact Carrington at (814) 688-6636 or the church at (814) 723-7730.