Two Champaign County churches are among the 29 Greater Dayton Area sites where people can donate to Operation Christmas Child, the annual project in which people fill shoe boxes with a “Wow!” item, like a doll or soccer ball, other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

During National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23, volunteers hope to collect more than 59,716 gift-filled shoe boxes for 11 million children in need overseas.

The two participating local churches are New Life Christian Church, 7016 Urbana Woodstock Pike, and First Christian Church, 113 Orange St., Urbana.

Shoe boxes will be accepted at New Life Christian Church on Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Nov. 17-19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.; Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Nov. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m.; Nov. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m.; and Nov. 23 from 9 to 11 a.m.

First Christian Church will accept shoe boxes Nov. 16 from noon to 3 p.m.; Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Nov. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m.; Nov. 19-20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Nov. 21-22 from 3 to 7 p.m.; and Nov. 23 from 8 a.m. to noon.

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 shoe boxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoe box is the first gift they have ever received.

For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child call 937-475-7536. With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoe box 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 shoe box. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.

Using tracking technology, participants can follow their boxes to discover where in the world their gifts are delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.