It’s that time again. As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are giving thanks for all their blessings and sharing those blessings with children in need by packing shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child. 

For more than three decades, these gift-filled showboxes have been delivered to millions of children around the world. Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with fun toys, personal care items, and school supplies bring joy and hope to boys and girls who may have never received a gift of their own. These shoeboxes can be dropped off soon during National Collection Week, from November 17 through 24. More than 4,500 drop-off sites will soon be open.

There are several locations in the Valley – Baptist Temple in McAllen, 2001 Trenton Rd.; First Baptist Church in Edinburg, 201 E. Samano St.; Iglesia Restauracion, 713 N. Schuerbach, Mission; Baptist Temple Mid-Valley Church, 706 S. Iowa Ave, in Weslaco; Tio Life Community Church, 1112 Rio Rico Rd., Mercedes; and St. John Church of Rio Grande City, 109 N. FM 3167. Operation dates and times vary by location. Be sure to visit www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/ for full details about drop off times and dates.

“Children around the world need a tangible reminder that there is hope and that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Through these shoebox gifts packed with special items, children also receive the opportunity to hear about the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.”

Participants can use the online lookup tool to find the nearest drop-off location (www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/) and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. It is searchable by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop off. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage. (samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/).

If you can’t donate a shoebox or make it to a location, there are directions on their website on other ways you can donate or volunteer.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local churches worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.