Two churches in Bryan County are serving as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child, which organizer Samaritan’s Purse says is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.

The annual project ask individuals, families, churches and groups to spread joy to children around the world by filling shoeboxes with items like doll, soccer balls, other toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

“Through the simple act of filling a shoebox, you can make a tangible difference in the life of a child halfway around the world,” said Richmond Hill volunteer Ted Burnsed, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for several years.

During national collection week, Nov. 16-23, people are expected to contribute more than 27,500 gift-filled shoeboxes to the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need.

Bryan County collection sites are Richmond Hill First Baptist Church, 9184 Ford Ave. and Pembroke First Baptist Church Pembroke, 169 Church St. Call the Richmond Hill church at 912-663-8737 or Pembroke’s at 912-653-3356 for more information.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, the campaign has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than
150 countries and territories. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

For more information about how to participate, call 318-525-7471. With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized a shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries.

Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their box to discover where in the world their gift is delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.