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November is a time when locations all over the U.S. collect shoe box gifts for children overseas during the Operation Christmas Child National Collection week. This years collection week is Nov. 12-19.
Out of 5,000 U.S. drop off locations, a few places in northwestern New Jersey will be participating, such as Lafayette Federated Church, Western Hills Christian Church in Tranquility and the Evangelical Free Church of Blairstown.
Each shoe box that is donated by local families, organizations and churches are filled with toys and school items along with hygiene items.
The Samaritan's Purse Project partners up with local churches each year for these boxes, where each box is sent to a child who has been affected by war, disease, poverty, disaster or famine. Sometimes these boxes are the first gift a child may have ever received.
If you would like to help donate or need more information regarding any stipulations of Operation Christmas Child, call (410)-772-7360 or visit Samaritan's Purse, here.
According to the NJ Herald, since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.
Scroll down for locations and times of dropoffs in northwestern NJ.
Locations and times of dropoffs in northwestern NJ:
Lafayette Federated Church, 180 Route 15, Lafayette:
Nov. 6, 8-9; Nov. 12-13, 15-16, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Nov. 14, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Nov. 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nov. 18, Noon to 4 p.m.
Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Western Hills Christian School, 40 Kennedy Road, Tranquility:
Nov. 12-16, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 17 & 19 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Evangelical Free Church of Blairstown, 11 Lambert Road:
Nov. 12 & 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 13-14; 16 & 18, Noon to 2 p.m.
Nov. 17, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Nov. 19, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Source: NJ Herald