A crew busy at Escalon Covenant Church on Sunday was getting another load of boxes ready for shipping out as part of the Operation Christmas Child effort, the gift-filled boxes going to a number of countries to help make the holidays brighter for kids in need. Workers included, from left, Pam Mendez, Marcelino Rafael Hernandez, coordinator Pam Elsholz, Abigail Hernandez and Debbie Grimes. Elsholz said this year’s effort “has been beautiful” and the community came through once again to donate the holiday shoeboxes filled with gifts.