Operation Christmas Child now accepting shoebox gift donations across the Cape Fear

LELAND​​​​​​​​​​ (WWAY) —The holiday season has begun and that means Operation Christmas Child is now underway.

Shoebox gifts filled with toys, personal care items, and school supplies may be dropped off now during National Collection Week, Nov. 13 ­– 20.

Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches across the globe to deliver the gifts to children in need. This year, they hope to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children.

“This season, children around the world need a tangible reminder that there is hope and that God loves them,” Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, said in a press release.

Participants can use the online lookup tool to find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. It is searchable by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop off.

There are six drop-off sites located in the Cape Fear, including Wilmington, Leland, Southport and Burgaw.

Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage.