Bell County families are on a mission to make an impact in the lives of children in need. They are donating colorfully wrapped shoebox gifts to be sent to children around the world — many of whom have never received a gift before and have very little to call their own.

Nov. 13 -20 is Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, when local residents will collect shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The Samaritan’s Purse project will deliver these gifts to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. The Cumberland Valley Area Team in Kentucky volunteers have a goal of collecting more than 12,300 gifts during the week.

“It’s exciting to think of the impact our efforts will have in the life of each child who receives a shoebox,” said Regional Director Todd Edwards. “We can’t wait to see how our community will respond this year to share God’s love with children across the globe.”

Bell County residents are not alone in their effort to help children around the world. More than 150,000 volunteers including families, churches and other groups are joining forces to contribute to the largest Christmas project of its kind. In 2017, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach 12 million children, with 12,300 coming from the Cumberland Valley Area Team.

Clear Creek Bible College/Family Life Community Center in Pineville is serving as a drop-off site. Hours include: Nov. 13-17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Nov. 17, 1 to 6 p.m.; Nov. 18, 1 to 5 p.m.; and Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child or to view gift suggestions, call 615-962-7145 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.

Participants can donate $9 per shoebox 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 shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 146 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.