Operation Christmas Child sends gifts around the world

Operation Christmas Child's upcoming National Collection Week is Nov. 12-19.

Multiple locations throughout the area will open to collect shoe box gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items for the Samaritan's Purse project.

Shoe box gifts are filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items to share God's love with millions of boys and girls around the world through the Samaritan's Purse project.

Local collections sites with days and hours:

• Elmhurst: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 142 E. Third St.: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 12-13; 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 14-15; 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 17; noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18; and 8 to 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19.

• Wheaton: Highpoint Church Wheaton, 1310 N. Main St.: 9 to 11 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 12-13, Thursday, Nov. 15, Saturday, Nov. 17, and Monday, Nov. 19; 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14; 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; and 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 18.

• Carol Stream: Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1244 W. Army Trail Road: noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, to Friday, Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18; and 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19.

• La Grange Highlands: Hope Church, 5707 Wolf Road: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Nov. 12-16; 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Nov. 13 and 15; 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Monday, Nov. 17 and 19; and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.

• Downers Grove: Hobson Road Community Church, 2531 Hobson Road: 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 12 and 19; 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, Nov. 14-16; 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13; noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18

• Naperville: Highpoint Church, 1805 Highpoint Drive: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 12 and 19; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 15-16; 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13; 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14; 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.

• Naperville: Calvary Church of Naperville, 9S200 Route 59, Suite 1: 8 to 11 a.m. Monday to Friday, Nov. 12-19; 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.

• Darien: Four Corners Community Church, 8251 Lemont Road: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 12-14; 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15; 10 a.m. to noon Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17; noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18; and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19.

• Bolingbrook: First Baptist Church, 314 E Briarcliff Road:

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 12-15; 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13; 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18; and 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 19.

• Plainfield: Springbrook Community Church, 11247 S Heggs Road: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, Nov. 12-19; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 13-14; 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.

For additional drop-off locations, visit the drop-off locator online at www.samaritanspurse.org.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call (612) 359-7025, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 per shoe box gift online through "Follow Your Box" and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.

Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child's specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoe box by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.