Gulf Shores Middle School is starting its annual Operation Christmas Child. This program is when students bring in toys and shoe boxes for children whose families cannot afford Christmas, or live in parts of the world where Christmas is not traditionally celebrated.

GSMS’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) puts the boxes together and brings them to the First Baptist Church in Gulf Shores. After another trip through Atlanta, the gift boxes head to Haiti for the children to have a nice little Christmas surprise.

“I am making a shoe box for a boy and I’m putting some books, hot wheels, and a note,” said Reed Linam, seventh-grader,

Operation Christmas Child is a national program and this is GSMS’s fourth year wrapping the shoe boxes. The program has been going on in other places for many years. The shoe boxes are for kids of all age groups including teenage boys and girls.

Many things can be brought in for the shoe boxes such as pencils, jewelry, soap, crayons, coloring books, paper, flip flops, toothbrushes, toothpaste, wash cloths and candy..

GSMS teacher and FCA sponsor, Mrs. Donna Stringfield said, “The last day to bring the items in is today, so it’s not too late to bring in items. Please bring (empty) shoe boxes in as well.”

“I think it’s good people are getting toys for children and it’s for a good cause,” said eighth-grader Kaley McClung.