She sews, purchases and packs yearlong for this one time of the year. You won’t see elves in the Fran Bokulich Operation Christmas Child workshop, but that never stops her from creating more than 500 shoeboxes loaded with toys, clothing and candy for needy children around the world.

Santa’s got nothing on this.

Preparing for Operation Christmas Child is almost a full-time job for Bokulich, a 77-year-old Victoria woman. The project is part of the Christian-based Samaritan’s Purse organization that sends shoeboxes each year packed with children’s items and a message about Jesus Christ to remote parts of the world.

Bokulich began doing her part in 1996 with just two boxes.

“Years ago when I started this – when the Lord started this – it was like Grand Central Station in here,” she said, sitting in her workshop. She has an entire room in her home devoted to the project where she sews cloth dolls with stringy yarn hair and children’s clothing. She wraps each of her boxes and includes inside a wash cloth and soap.

Although Bokulich has never left the country, her gifts reach children all over the world.

Pinned on the wall above her workspace are pictures of gypsy children in Greece clutching her toys.

“I look at them as my children,” she said. “My children of the world.”

This week is national collection week for Operation Christmas Child. As of Monday, the Guadalupe Baptist Association in Victoria collected more than 800 boxes but organizers hope for more.

“It’s special because some of these kids have never or ever will get another Christmas gift,” said Kathy Jones, a project organizer. “They take them into countries where kids normally will not get Christmas gifts.”

Last year the project collected 2,335 boxes, but Long is unsure if this year will be similar.

“With the economy I don’t know. I’m saying yes because I’m going to think positive,” she said. “You just don’t know.”

Hard times or not, Bokulich continues her efforts because of her love for children and God, she said.

“It’s so satisfying. It’s rewarding,” she said. “It brings joy. It makes you want to keep on doing so you can help someone else.”

Originally Published on Victorian Advocate site