JEFFERSON TWP — There’s no frost on the pumpkin yet, or anywhere really, but John Woitas is already gearing up for the Christmas season.

Woitas and his wife of 50 years, Jane, of Jefferson Township are coordinators for this year’s Operation Christmas Child.

When you are spearheading the efforts of more than 50 churches and other organizations collecting thousands of gift boxes that will be shipped around the world for Christmas, an early start is essential.

John Woitas said, “We are area coordinators for Butler and Armstrong counties for Operation Christmas Child. It is operated under the Samaritan’s Purse, a charitable evangelistic relief organization.”

Volunteers fill shoeboxes with gifts, school supplies and hygiene items. The shoeboxes are collected and sent to distribution centers for transport around the world.

Although it’s the Woitas’ first year as coordinators, they spent eight years running a shoebox drop-off site at their church, Zion United Methodist, 438 Bear Creek Road, Sarver.

And, according to Woitas, this year the collection area has been reorganized. The retired high school teacher and retired school nurse are responsible for the efforts of 50 churches and various other organizations in Butler and Armstrong counties. In the past, Butler County had been part of a four-county group that included Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer.

Logistics aside, Woitas said, “Operation Christmas Child provides gift-filled shoeboxes to children in countries all over the world. Last year, we collected 11.2 million (boxes) worldwide and they were sent to 109 countries. And 8.7 million were collected in the United States.”

Eric Lapointe, regional manager for Operation Christmas Child’s mid-Atlantic region (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia), said, “We’ve collected 135 million shoeboxes since 1993 (and they were) sent to over 150 countries.”

Ten other countries in addition to the United States undertake efforts, said Lapointe.

Woitas said the mechanics of the shoebox donation are simple. Churches, scout troops and other organizations fill shoeboxes with items destined for children.

“Any shoebox is fair game,” he said. “You can use an old shoebox in the cupboard, whatever. I wish they were all the same size. Running a relay center and having to pack all these boxes in crates, it’s a little juggling act.”

Jane Woitas said, “They do make a shoebox that can be ordered online. Churches can order them. They have the Samaritan’s Purse logo and the Operation Christmas Child logo which is an airplane. When they order packages of 100, it costs a little less than $40.”

The added labels can be ordered from Samaritan’s Purse as well as pamphlets outlining how to fill a shoebox. The shoeboxes can be designated for a boy or girl in ages 2 to 4, 5 to 9 or 10 to 14.

John Woitas said boxes should be filled with school supplies, nonliquid hygiene items such as toothbrushes and bar soap, a personal note and a picture of the donor or group. Donors could hear back from the recipient.

Jane Woitas said, “We have never heard back. We’ve been doing it for 20 years, but one of our friends, eight months later they had a letter from the family.”

And a toy item such as a deflated soccer ball and pump or a stuffed animal also should be included.

Liquids, chocolate, food, or war-related items such as GI Joes or toy guns are not permitted.

The national shoebox collection week is Nov. 14-21.

“We have people that shop all year round when there are sales going. Many churches are having packing parties Nov. 12,” said Woitas.

He said last year churches in the four-county collection area packed 13,000 shoeboxes with his home church contributing 2,644. This year, he said, the goal is 15,000 boxes.