After packing more than 5,000 shoe boxes Saturday for Operation Christmas Child, area coordinator Ginny Cook told the group, “We’ve been preparing for this day since January. It’s unbelievable. Thank you so much and just keep praying for the children that will receive these shoe boxes.”

Cook said about 200 attended the annual OCC Packing Party at Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Portsmouth.

“We packed 5,000 boxes in about three hours,” Cook said. “About 200 attended. We had things left over so we’ll be packing more boxes at our relay center.”

Cook told those assembled, “We are so grateful to you and to God, who rained Beanie Babies out of the sky —thank you so much.”

Cook was referring to the numerous numbers of people who donated Beanie Babies and other small stuffed animals to OCC for this year’s shoe box drive.

Cook said she appreciated everyone that gave up their Saturday to help out.

Since 1993, OCC, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, has delivered more than 69 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.

Locally, volunteers collect simple shoe box gifts personally packed by children, families and individuals in Adams, Scioto, Pike, Ross, Jackson, Vinton, Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Hocking and Lawrence counties.

Tiffany Pistole, media coordinator for the local OCC efforts, said, “It was just great to see the community come out and help.”

Cook said groups came from the Marsh House, Stepping Stones, Upward Bound from Shawnee State University, Key clubs in Portsmouth, lots of individuals and churches, and the collection center staff from Jackson came to load the truck.

Judy Preston and Bridget Bonzo, both members of Bigelow Church, helped pack boxes.

“I’ve been involved in it ever since Ginny started coordinating. We work on it all year,” Preston said.

Bonzo said this was her first year to help out.

“I was happy to take part and help out,” she said, and added that she decided to get involved because of the enthusiasm for OCC at Bigelow.

DEBORAH DANIELS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 234