Operation Christmas Child is in full swing this week.

With a local collection site at Heritage Church, 1155 Escalon Ave., Escalon, the brightly colored shoeboxes packed with age-appropriate gifts for both boys and girls can be dropped off through Monday, Nov. 22.

The church is a collection center and is open all this week for drop offs. Those that still want to donate can also pick up a shoebox at the church, fill it and return it. Donors can choose to fill a box for a boy or girl and can also choose a specific age. Monetary donations are also being sought to help defray the cost of sending out the boxes.

Boxes can be picked up at the church from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; donors are asked to fill the boxes with small toiletries, stuffed animals, toys and small gifts.

Once the boxes are delivered, they help with the outreach of the church, as every box is used as a “tool for evangelism and discipleship” at local churches throughout the world. Many donors add in a personalized note, sharing encouraging words of love, hope and care with the young recipient.

Drop off hours this week at Heritage Church are: Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and the final collection day will be Monday, Nov. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on the program, where the boxes go and how to pack a shoebox for this special Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child outreach effort, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ (https://wwwsamaritanspurse.org).