Box up your love for the holidays

Operation Christmas Child is gearing up for the year as Samaritan's Purse prepares to send gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster.

The goal this year is to reach 12 million children with Christmas wishes and the hope of Jesus.

"Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us to share the hope of the Gospel with boys and girls around the world. Please pray that these simple gifts have an eternal impact."

If you would like to participate, Samaritan's Purse encourages you to label an average shoe box to indicate whether its contents are for a boy or girl and which of the three age categories it is appropriate for: 2 to 4, 5 to 9 or 10 to 14.

The shoebox can then be filled with gifts. Samaritan's Purse recommends a larger "wow" gift, such as a stuffed animal, and a selection of smaller toys, school supplies and personal care items.

You can also include a personal note and a photo. A donation of $10 per box is required to cover project costs, which can be done through samaritanspurse.org – label options for your shoebox are also available, including one that allows you to follow your box and find out its destination.

National Collection Week takes place the third week in November, when more than 4500 drop-off locations open across the country. Drop-off will run this year from November 18 to 25.

The closest locations for drop-off will include the Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Spearfish, open each weekday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as well as from 10 a.m. to noon on the Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Sunday.

The Summit Open Bible Church in Belle Fourche will be open for drop-offs from 5 to 7 p.m. each day while the Gateway Fellowship Church in Newcastle will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on November 18 through 20 and November 22 and 23; 6 to 8 p.m. on November 21 and 24; and 7 to 9 a.m. on November 25.

The Calvary Community Church in Gillette will be accepting drop-offs each day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except for November 23 when collection will end 30 minutes early and November 24 when it will begin at noon.