A child in Moldavia receives a package from Operation Christmas Child. The effort is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization.

Churches in Butler County 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. 12-19.

Operation Christmas Child will deliver these gifts to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine.

Families, churches and groups are transforming empty shoeboxes into gifts filled with school supplies, hygiene items and toys.

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

The Samaritan's Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver the gifts. For many of the children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.

For more information on how to participate, call 410-772-7360 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.

Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.

Those who prefer online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child's age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and note of encouragement.

Read more about the project in Thursday's Butler Eagle.

<h3>Friendship Presbyterian Church Community Center</h3>886 New Castle Road, Slippery Rock5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12; 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 13;5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 14; 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 15;5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 16; 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 171 to 3 p.m. Nov. 18; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 19<h3>St. John's Reformed Church</h3>494 Evans City Road10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12; 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13; 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 14; 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 15; 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 17; noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 18; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19<h3>St. John's Reformed Church</h3>334 W. Slippery Rock St., Chicora2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 12; 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13;10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14; 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 15, 16; 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 17; 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 18; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 19Three Rivers Free Will Baptist Church, 20401 Route 19<h3>Cranberry Township</h3>9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 12, 13, 14; 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 15; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 17; 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 18; 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 19<h3>Woodland Valley Church</h3>225 Crowe Avenue, Mars9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 12; 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 13; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 14; 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 15; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 16; noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 17; 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 18; 9 to 10 a.m. Nov. 19<h3>Zion United Methodist Church</h3>438 Bear Creek Road, Sarver6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 12; 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13, 14, 15, 16; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 17; 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 18; 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 19