The tally is in and goal was nearly met for Operation Christmas Child.

A total of 1,256 shoeboxes were collected in the Butler County area according to Linda Horn, relay center coordinator for Butler County.

Operation Christmas Child is a nation-wide program that allows individuals and groups to put together shoe boxes of toys, arts and crafts, school supplies and much more for children in poor or underprivileged communities. Boxes can be made for boys or girls.

“Our goal was probably 1,300 and that’s close to what we do every year,” Horn said. “We can always do better.”

In Montgomery, at the regional center, which is made up of several counties, groups and organizations collected 23,600.

“I think it’s just a really good effort,” Horn said. “I’m happy for that many people to hear the gospel of Christ in the form of a simple shoebox gift. It’s great for children to be involved to get out of their selfish mode and think of another child. That is such a reward for me to see a child actually put somebody else ahead of himself or herself as far as looking forward to a gift.”