SPRINGDALE — Two collection sites are available Nov. 16 through 23 in Springdale for Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project.

Volunteers pack shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries su◊ering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty. From Northwest Arkansas, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary - sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, even dog sleds - to reach su◊ering children around the world.

“Operation Christmas Child is a unique opportunity to do something as simple as packing a shoe box that will have a lasting impact on a child a world away,” said Alescha Massey, Operation Christmas Child dropoff site coordinator, in a news release.

Operation Christmas Child

uses tracking technology that

allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be handdelivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts, individuals can use the EZ Give donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Local collection sites include:

• Simmons First - Sunset Branch, 2832 W. Sunset Blvd., Springdale, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Simmons First - Thompson Branch, 5106 S. Thompson St., Springdale, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Boxes can be filled with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Religion, Pages 9 on 11/07/2009