While most people in the U.S. are preparing for holiday activities, Austin volunteers with Operation Christmas Child — the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind — are filling shoe boxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas.

This year-round project of international Christian relief and the evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, are ramping up as local businesses, churches and community groups prepare to collect 530 gift-filled shoe boxes during National Collection Week, Nov. 12 – 19.

Anyone can drop off a packed shoe box at Crane Community Chapel. Then, using whatever means necessary — trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants — the shoe box gifts will be hand-delivered to hurting children in 100 countries around the world.

Austin’s collection site is located at Crane Community Chapel, 1111 Ninth St. NE, 800-353-5949

 

Collection times:

—9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 12-16

—1 p.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 17

—1 p.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 18

—9 a.m.-12 p.m. Nov. 19

Additional local collection sites can be found using the online Zip code locator at www.samaritanspurse.org.