Local churches are serving as collection points for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.

Local volunteers will be on hand to receive an expected 450 gift-filled shoeboxes at Wawasee Community Bible Church, 2035 E. 1300 N., east of Milford, and at Warsaw Church of God, 1059 Rozella Rd., Warsaw. Shoeboxes are typically packed with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement and then sent to children in need worldwide.

National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child is Nov. 18-25. At the local collection site, anyone can drop off a gift-filled shoebox to send to a child overseas. Using whatever means of transportation necessary, the gifts will be distributed to the children. For many, the shoebox will be the first gift they have ever received.

Operation Christmas Child offers a way for participants to follow their box by using the donation form found online at samaritanspurse.org. Donors will receive an email telling the country where their shoeboxes are delivered.

Since 1993, more than 100 million shoebox gifts have been collected and delivered in more than 100 countries for Operation Christmas Child.

Operating hours for the collection site at Wawasee Community Bible Church are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18-19, 21-22; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23; noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24; and 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 25.

Another Kosciusko County collection point is the Warsaw Church of God, 1059 Rozella Road. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20; 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21; 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 937-374-0761 or visit samaritanspurse.org.