As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are giving thanks and giving back—to children in need around the world through Operation Christmas Child.

Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies may be dropped off now during National Collection Week, November 14 - 21. More than 4,500 drop-off sites are now open. The Samaritan’s Purse project will collect its 200-millionth shoebox this year.

There are two locations in the Valley – Baptist Temple in McAllen, 2001 Trenton Rd.; Ecclesia Community Church in Brownsville, 2000 N. Minnesota Ave. Visit the website to see drop-off times.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for nearly three decades. The project of Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need.

For more information and to find a drop-off location near you, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/.