ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Several Rochester area churches are collecting shoeboxes that will be filled with items for children around the world. The goal is to give them a chance to experience the joys of the holiday season.

The effort has been a holiday tradition at Webster Assembly of God for the last two decades to collect shoeboxes. It's part of a worldwide effort called Operation Christmas Child, spearheaded by the group Samaritan's Purse lead by evangelist Franklin Graham.

Betsy Jester volunteers every year to help the church organize the shoeboxes.

"The idea that are people who truly have nothing and how big a gift a shoebox with crayons, Playdough, cards, a coloring book that changes a child's life that moment they feel like I matter. I matter to somebody," said Jester.

Pastor Dan Grossglass encourages others to pack shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items.

If you are not able to use your own shoebox, Grossglass says they also have a supply of boxes that can be used.

"Everybody needs this, not just the children that are going to be receiving the box but we here that are packing the boxes and the joy of knowing that we can touch someone else's life. It gets us outside of the circumstance that we are in and just recognizes that we are all in this together," said Grossglass.

The church will continue to collect donations for the rest of the week.

"We pray over every crate and box. Each box represents a child. That's a child we are hoping to impact, hoping to give them hope," said Jester.

There are multiple drop-off locations around the Finger Lakes region. For more information, click here.