As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are giving thanks and giving back — to children in need around the world through Operation Christmas Child.

The Grays Harbor Foursquare Church in Aberdeen and Malone Assembly of God in Elma are area drop-off sites.

Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies may be dropped off now during National Collection Week, through Nov. 21. More than 4,500 drop-off sites are now open across the nation. Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for nearly three decades.

In 2022, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children. This season, there’s still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoe boxes into fun gifts. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need.

“This season, children around the world need a tangible reminder that there is hope and that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, which runs the collections operations. “Through these shoebox gifts packed with special items, children also receive the opportunity to hear about the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.”

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 198 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

Drop-off sites

Grays Harbor Foursquare Church, 4800 Central Park Drive, Aberdeen

Thursday, Nov. 17 — 5 to 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 18 — 4 to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20 — noon to 3 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 21 — 8 to 10 a.m.

Malone Assembly of God, 23 Mox Chehalis Road, Elma

Thursday, Nov. 17 — 6 to 8 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 18 — 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 — 10 a.m. to noon

Sunday, Nov. 20 — noon to 2 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 21 — 10 a.m. to noon