NILES — This month, sites in the Niles area will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, Nov. 12 to 19, at Niles Seventh-Day Adventist School, 110 N Fairview Ave.

Niles families, churches and groups are busy transforming empty shoeboxes into fun gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The Samaritan’s Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.

This year, Niles-area residents hope to collect more than 37,500 gifts to contribute to the 2018 global goal of reaching 11 million children.

“We are honored to be linking arms with our community to help children around the world experience the true meaning of Christmas,” said Regional Director David Zimmerman, “These simple gifts show God’s love to children facing difficult circumstances.”

Niles drop-off times include:

• 8 to 11 a.m. — Monday, Nov. 12

• 5 to 7 p.m. — Tuesday, Nov. 13

• Noon to 2 p.m. — Wednesday, Nov. 14

• 5 to 7 p.m. — Thursday, Nov. 15

• Noon to 2 p.m. — Friday, Nov. 16

• 5 to 7 p.m. — Saturday, Nov. 17

• 1 to 5 p.m. — Sunday, Nov. 18

• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Monday, Nov. 19

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org.