Next week, sites in the Bogalusa area will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, scheduled for Nov. 12-19.

Bogalusa families, churches and groups will be busy transforming empty shoeboxes into fun gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The Samaritan’s Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.

This year, Bogalusa-area residents hope to collect more than 15,487 gifts to contribute to the 2018 global goal of reaching 11 million children.

“We are honored to be linking arms with our community to help children around the world experience the true meaning of Christmas,” said Regional Director Matt McClelland. “These simple gifts show God’s love to children facing difficult circumstances.”

Local collection sites include the following:

• Bogalusa, Palestine Baptist Church, 59369 Palestine Church Road. Monday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. until noon; Tuesday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. until noon; Wednesday, Nov. 14, 3 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. until noon; Friday, Nov. 16, 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. until noon; Saturday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 19, 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
• Bush, Hebron Baptist Church, 79614 Highway 41. Monday, Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 15, 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
• Franklinton, First Baptist Church, 950 Self St. Monday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. until noon; Tuesday, Nov. 13, noon until 3 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. until noon; Thursday, Nov. 15, noon until 3 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. until noon; Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. until noon; Sunday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 19, 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 817-595-2230, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.

Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is 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 gospel.