Operation Christmas Child collecting shoeboxes starting Nov. 18 | Sequim Gazette

Olympic Peninsula volunteers are preparing to collect shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 18-25.

Friends and neighbors have been working all year to fill their Operation Christmas Child Shoebox gifts for National Collection Week, set for Nov. 18-25.

Convenient local drop-off locations (listed below) allow for gifts to start their journey around the world. In 2023, nearly 11.3 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide, more 10 million from the U.S. Since 1993, more than 220 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received a shoebox gift.

Many of those children are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2024 with the hope of Jesus.

Shoeboxes are filled for children ages 2-14 and should include a “wow” item — such as a toy, stuffed animal, musical instrument and sports balls — along with personal items, clothing and accessories, crafts and activities and small toys and figures for the age group.

Participants are also encouraged to send a personal note and photo.

Find a step-by-step guide on how to pack a shoebox at samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.

“Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them,” Samaritan’s Purse president Franklin Graham said.

“Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us to share the hope of the Gospel with boys and girls around the world. Please pray that these simple gifts have an eternal impact.”

Operation Christmas Child, program organizes say, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ

Olympic Peninsula shoebox drop-off locations include:

• Eastern Hills Community Church, 91 Savannah Lane — 4-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18; 1-3 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, Nov. 19-20; 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21; 1-3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23; 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24; 10 a.m.-noon Monday, Nov. 25

• Sequim Community Church, 950 N. Fifth Ave. — 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18; 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19; 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 20; 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21; 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22; 1-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23-24; 9-11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25

• Harbor of Hope Foursquare Church, 1018 W. 16th St., Port Angeles — 3-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Nov. 18-22; 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23; 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24; 9-11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25

• San Juan Baptist Church, 1704 Discovery Road, Port Townsend — 1-3 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 18-19; 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20; 1-3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 21-24; 9-11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25

• First Baptist Church of Forks, 651 S. Forks Ave. — 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 18-19; 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20; 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21; 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22; 2:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23; 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24; 9-noon Monday, Nov. 25.