For the last 10 years Darla Sweeter and her husband, Lee, have been giving a little extra during the holidays. They have been preparing gift boxes for children in other countries.

Sweeter is a secretary at First Church of God in Albany. Her children are grown and she said she enjoys preparing the boxes for children who wouldn't normally receive a Christmas gift.

Operation Christmas Child was started in 1993 through Samaritan's Purse, which was founded by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham.

"He started Operation Christmas Child because he wanted children in other countries to know that Jesus loves them," Sweeter said.

Last year over 8 million boxes were donated to 130 countries.

This year, Sweeter and her husband are preparing four boxes full of goodies for children ages 10 to 14, two for boys and two for girls.

They hope others will join them and make boxes to send.

Some of the items she recommends putting in the boxes are hygiene products, such as a tooth brush, tooth paste, combs, brushes and low fragrance soap in a sealable sandwich bag. She also recommends putting in small toys, hard candy in a sealable bag, scarves, mittens, sunglasses, a flashlight with batteries, socks, underwear, books and a stuffed animal.

"I suggest people get colorful stuff," she said. "These children don't get a whole lot of color in their lives."

Another gift she always adds to the box is something musical.

After purchasing all the supplies and getting them to fit in the shoe box, Sweeter recommends adding a picture of you or your family and send a letter along with it.

The box can be wrapped, but Sweeter suggests wrapping the box and lid separately so it can be easily opened and checked before shipping.

Sweeter also suggests placing a rubber band around the box to make sure the lid stays on.

The last two things to add to the box are a check for $7 to pay for shipping of the box, and a tag on the outside marking whether the box is for a boy or a girl and what age group it should go to.

Things that should not be added to the box are anything glass, liquid, breakable or scary.

Sweeter says before dropping off the box at a drop location, they should be prayed over.

"You want to pray that your box makes it to the right child and that everything goes well," Sweeter said.

When the boxes are delivered to the children, each child also will receive a book in their language that tells the story of Jesus.

Boxes can be dropped off between Nov. 16 and 22 at Jefferson Baptist Church, 15002 Highway 99E S.E., or Corvallis Church of the Nazarene, 4900 N.W. Highway 99.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan's Purse or to print labels for boxes, go to www.samaritanspurse.org.