After some lean years, Operation Christmas Child -- also called the Shoebox Program -- brought in a bumper crop of donated gifts this year to send to children in impoverished nations, according to organizers.

While 35 boxes were donated by the public, local schools raised enough money to fund 170 boxes, according to Tooele City Recorder Sharon Dawson. Those 205 boxes will be taken to Salt Lake City for mailing this Friday.

"The schools did an awesome job," said Dawson. "The principals did fun things to motivate their schools. It became a fun project."

The haul of donations marks a remarkable turnaround. In 2005, Operation Christmas organizers said the viability of the entire program was threatened due to a lack of donations.

Among the 10 schools that participated this year were Step Ahead Preschool, which donated three bags of candy; St. Marguerite's Preschool, which donated hundreds of pencils and erasers; and Copper Canyon Elementary, which donated a huge box full of small toys.

Dawson credits the generosity of the schools, local businesses and the community at large with the success of this year's gift drive. She also gave kudos to the Boys and Girls Club for their support.

"The people who brought boxes in really enjoyed it," she said. "They would ask for details about the program and express their desire to do it again."

Dawson said this particular year will serve as a model for the program in the future.

"Seven years ago we asked the schools to do complete boxes," she said. "That was kind of overwhelming for them. Now we just ask them to choose specific items, and we break it down with what's needed."

Dawson said the program is also benefiting from increased recognition. Nationally, operation Christmas Child started 13 years ago under the organization Samaritan's Purse, which is presided over by Franklin Graham, son of the Reverend Billy Graham. Locally, the program has been operating for seven years.

"People who've done it before continue to do it," Dawson said. "I think people like helping people."