This month, 22 locations near the Birmingham area will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child—the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind.

There are two locations in Chilton County including one in Verbena and one in Thorsby for individuals to drop off shoeboxes during the national collection week Nov. 16-23.

The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many Alabama residents, families, churches and groups who spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with a “wow” item—like a doll or soccer ball—other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

“Through the simple act of filling a shoebox, someone in Alabama can make a tangible difference in the life of a child halfway around the world. Anyone can participate and bring joy to a child facing difficult circumstances,” Birmingham area Co-Network Coordinator Stephanie Gates, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for 13 years and volunteered for eight years said.

During National Collection Week, an estimated 45,000 gift-filled shoeboxes from the Birmingham area will help reach the 2015 global goal of reaching 11 million children in need, according to a press release from Samaritan’s Purse.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child 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 in Operation Christmas Child call (205) 908-2067.

With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website.

Go to Samaritans purse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them in a shoebox.

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 the gift is delivered by using the donation form found on the website.

The two locations in Chilton County which have been deemed collection sites for the shoeboxes are the Church at Bethel at 10042 Collins Chapel Road in Thorsby and Verbena Baptist Church at 197 County Road in Verbena.