First Baptist Church in Hinesville will serve as one of 4,000 sites nationwide collecting gift-filled shoeboxes for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23.

The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is for individuals, families, churches and groups who spread joy to children around the world by filling shoeboxes with a items like dolls and soccer balls, but also school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

“We’re excited to be a part of this effort to communicate love and hope, through simple gifts, to so many children around the world who are struggling from war, famine, poverty and natural disaster,” said Dora Sprinkel of Hinesville.

She will serve as the relay center coordinator managing operations at the drop-off site, where she hopes to collect and contribute 750 gift-filled shoeboxes toward the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.

The drop-off site at the church is at 220 E. Memorial Drive and will be open from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 16, 17, 19 and 20; 3-5 p.m. Nov. 18 and 22; 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 21; and noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 23.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

For more information about how to participate, call 318-525-7471. With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them in a shoebox. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.

Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world their gift is delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.