The collection season for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, is underway and residents have the opportunity to pack a shoebox gift filled with toys, school supplies and personal care items for children in need.

The collection period is open now through Nov. 24. The drop-off locations in southern New Hampshire are as follows:

Community Chapel Church of the Nazarene, 5 St. Laurent St. in Nashua

Centerpoint Community Church, 101 School St. in Salem

Orchard Christian Fellowship, 136 Pillsbury Rd. in Londonderry

Emmanuel Church, 14 Mammoth Rd. in Hooksett

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for more than three decades. This year, Samaritan’s Purse hopes to collect shoeboxes throughout New Hampshire to help with the global goal of reaching another 12 million children.

“Every shoebox gift is an opportunity to tell a boy or girl that God loves them. That’s why we do what we do,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “I’m thankful for every single person who packs a shoebox because these simple gifts open the door for the Gospel.”

Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. Shoebox gifts built online go to the ends of the earth to children in some of the hardest-to-reach places–whether deep jungles, city slums, steep mountainsides or one of the more than 1,000 remote Pacific islands.