Gateway Church, 160 Cowan Road, Parkesburg, is a designated drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child (OCC), an annual effort that provides shoeboxes filled with gifts to children in need worldwide. OCC is a program of Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief organization.

The community is invited to participate by gathering small toys, personal care items and school supplies and placing them in a shoebox during National Collection Week, which will take place this year from Monday, Nov. 18, through Monday, Nov. 25.

Boxes can be dropped off at Gateway Church at the following times: Monday, Nov. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 20, from noon to 2 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 21, from 5 to 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 22, from 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m.; and Nov. 25 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Suggested shoebox gifts include school supplies, such as crayons and pencils with sharpeners; small toys; small musical instruments like a harmonica; non-liquid hygiene items, such as washcloths and toothbrushes; and clothing accessories, including socks, gloves, scarves and hair bows.

Each box should contain a "wow" item such as a soccer ball with a manual air pump. A suggested $10 shipping donation is requested to be placed in each box.

Those with questions about what gifts may be included as well as those who want to track their shoebox may visit www.samaritanspurse.org, select "What We Do" and then choose "Operation Christmas Child."

According to the website, Samaritan's Purse has provided OCC shoebox gifts to more than 220 million children in more than 170 countries and territories since 1993.

For more information about the OCC effort at Gateway Church, visit http://www.gtwy.church and scroll down to Upcoming Events on the homepage.