Volunteers across Alabama are preparing to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child during National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23.

Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open nationwide during the annual collection period, giving individuals, families and groups an opportunity to contribute shoebox gifts for children in need.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world, including those affected by war, poverty, disease and natural disasters. The project aims to reach 12.8 million children in 2026 with the hope of Jesus.

The project is led by Samaritan’s Purse and works with local churches worldwide to deliver shoeboxes as tangible expressions of God’s love and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“Shoebox gifts may seem simple, but they have an eternal impact. Each box is an opportunity to tell a boy or girl in need about the true meaning of Christmas,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “I’ve delivered these boxes around the world, and I never get tired of seeing the joy that they bring — even in the midst of disasters, war, and poverty.”

Those interested in participating can find step-by-step packing instructions on the Operation Christmas Child website’s How to Pack a Shoebox webpage. Participants also can contribute $10 per shoebox gift online through the “Follow Your Box” program to receive a tracking label and discover where their gift is sent.

Volunteers can search for the nearest drop-off location and its hours of operation using the project's online lookup tool, which allows searches by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the shoebox drop-off site.

Since its launch in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 244 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 175 countries and territories. The project continues to work with local churches around the world to share messages of faith and hope with children in need.