By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

A number of collection sites have been designated to help contribute to a global Christmas project that will provide gift-filled shoeboxes for children in need around the world.

Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child is a national project and several locations in multiple counties around the Birmingham area will be participating in the week-long collection.

National collection week is set for Nov. 13-20, where hundreds of shoeboxes will be needed as they will be transformed into gifts of hope filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys. Operation Christmas Child will then deliver these shoebox gifts to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine.

This year, the Birmingham south area team hopes to contribute more than 22,000 shoebox gifts toward the 2017 global goal of reaching 12 million children.

“We are honored to join the nationwide effort to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for children who may have never experienced the true meaning of Christmas,” Regional Director Shelli Wishard said. “Through these simple gifts and a message of hope, children learn that God loves them and has not forgotten them.”

The local collection sites and drop off times are as follows:

–Helena First Baptist Church will collect items on Nov. 13 from 9-11 a.m. and 5-6 p.m., Nov. 14 from 9-11 a.m., Nov. 15 from 9-11 a.m. and 5-6 p.m., Nov. 16 from 9-11 a.m., Nov. 17 from 9-11 a.m., Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 19 from 2-4 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 9-11 a.m.

–Providence Baptist Church in Montevallo will collect items on Nov. 13 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Nov. 14 from 3:30-5:30 p.m., Nov. 15 from 6-8 p.m., Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 17 from 5-7 p.m., Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 19 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 8-10 a.m.

–First Baptist Church of Columbiana will collect items on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 18 from 9-11 a.m., Nov. 19 from 3-5 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

–Riverchase United Methodist Church in Hoover will collect items on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 14 from 4-6 p.m., Nov. 15 from 5-7 p.m., Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 17 from 4-6 p.m., Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 19 from 4-6 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 7-9 a.m.

–The Church at Bethel in Thorsby will collect items on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 16 from 6-8 p.m., Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 19 from 1-5 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

–Verbena Baptist Church in Verbena will collect items on Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 19 from 1-4:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 9-11 a.m.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child or to view gift suggestions, call 770-777-9342 or visit Samaritanspurse.org/occ.