For the past months, children, families and individuals in Forks have been creating special gifts of school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys by filling Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes that will be sent to children worldwide.

You can bring your Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to convenient drop-off locations during National Collection week, from Nov. 16 -23, 2020. The addresses and hours are listed at the end of this article.

“When a child learns this shoebox gift may be the only gift a child in another part of the world ever receives, their understanding of sharing can be changed forever,” says Paul Muncey, Operation Christmas Child volunteer since 2015.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child’s project of Samaritan’s Purse, has collected and delivered more than 178 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories as a demonstration of God’s love in a tangible way.

There’s still time for you to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage, https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box. You can also pack a shoebox online at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, Operation Christmas Child is offering a curbside option this year at our drop-off locations. A volunteer wearing a mask will greet you and direct you to an outside area where we will retrieve your shoeboxes. Volunteers will also present you with a touchless way to leave your contact information and the number of shoeboxes that you are dropping off.

“In the midst of the pandemic, the needs are greater than ever before,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Children around the world need to know that God loves them and there is hope. A simple shoebox gift opens the door to share about the true hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”

Collecting those gifts in our area takes place during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week Nov. 16 – 23, at:

The Caring Place, 481 W E Street, Forks, WA.

Nov. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20: 4 – 6 p.m.

Nov. 21 and 22: 1 – 3 p.m.

Nov. 23: 8 – 10 a.m.

For your convenience, there are also drop-off sites in Port Angeles, Sequim, and the Kitsap Peninsula.

For hours and addresses of these sites, go to https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/.