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Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week from Nov. 16-23.
Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, and shoebox packers can find their local drop-off locations across New York.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Operation Christmas Child hopes to reach 12.8 million children in 2026.
Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver the boxes to children in need. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through "Follow Your Box" and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
"Shoebox gifts may seem simple, but they have an eternal impact. Each box is an opportunity to tell a boy or girl in need about the true meaning of Christmas," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "I've delivered these boxes around the world, and I never get tired of seeing the joy that they bring--even in the midst of disasters, war, and poverty."
Participants can find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
Locations locally include Kidder Memorial Church, 385 S. Main St., Jamestown, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, 12 English St., Westfield; Clymer Methodist Church, 565 Clymer-Sherman Road, Clymer; and Pleasant Community Church, 673 Pleasant Drive, Warren, Pa.