Calvary Baptist Church youth group members hold stuffed animals collected for an upcoming Christmas mission trip to help children in a school district in Virgie, Ky. Calvary Baptist Church youth members already know what they want for Christmas.

The youth group has spent the past three years dreaming of ways to afford to take a mission trip to help students in a rural school district in Kentucky. About 49 church youth and adults will take a mission trip to Virgie, Ky., from Dec. 5-7.

Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Terry Pleasant has a friend in the Kentucky area. At the pastor's suggestion, the youth group has arranged with the school district to provide Christmas presents for underprivileged students in the small Kentucky town.

"There are many needs in this small community as a majority of the population is highly underprivileged," said Sandra Childers, one of the church's youth group leaders. "The goal of our trip is to minister and provide Christmas gifts for the children of these underprivileged families, who otherwise would not receive anything for the holiday."

The youth group is looking to provide presents for 300 students in four elementary schools and a middle school in Virgie.

UPS Freight has donated a tractor-trailer and driver to deliver the Christmas gifts to a function being organized by the Kentucky school district. Items being collected include toys, bikes, hats, gloves, scarves, snow boots and clothing.

Youth group member Gregory White is confident the group will succeed in its goal of providing gifts for 300 children.

"This is a total blessing to go on this trip," White said. "I want to see the kids happy. This is my main concern."

Beginning Oct. 18, Calvary Baptist Church will be open Saturday mornings from 2 until 4 p.m. to accept donations from local residents. The deadline to drop off items is Nov. 22. All donations are tax-deductible.