Special to the American Press

Next week, more than 4,500 locations will open across the country to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for needy children around the world. In Southwest Louisiana, volunteers will staff eight drop-off locations for area residents.

Anyone can pack a shoebox. Now is the time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into gifts filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys. Many children around the world cannot attend school without supplies and have never received a gift. Through Operation Christmas Child, millions of children will receive a tangible expression of God’s love this year in the form of a shoebox gift provided by individuals in Southwest Louisiana and around the globe.

Just use any standard-size shoe box, label it for a boy or girl with an approximate age (from 2-14), fill it with an age-appropriate gift(s), school supplies and hygiene items. No liquids or perishables. A donation of $10 will cover shipping and project costs.

Build your box this week, pray over it, and drop it off next week at one of the following locations:

• Life United Church on East College Street in Lake Charles
• Trinity Baptist Church on North Beglis Parkway in Sulphur
• Full Life Assembly of God on Plum Street in DeQuincy
• First Baptist Jennings on Carey Avenue in Jennings
• The Grand Church on First Avenue in Kinder
• First Baptist Longville on Longville Road in Longville
• Unity Baptist on Lake Charles Hwy in DeRidder
• East Leesville Baptist on Alexandria Hwy in Leesville
• First Baptist Church on Hwy 463 in Pitkin
• Anacoco First Baptist on Lake Port Arthur Ave in Anacoco

This is the 30th anniversary of Operation Christmas Child. Since 1993, this project has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.w