It’s time to spread good news and great joy around the world through the gift of a shoebox.

From Nov. 13-20, the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts —filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items — and delivers them to children in need around the world. For many of the young recipients, the gift-filled shoebox is the first present they have ever received.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 146 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

In 2017, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach an additional 12 million children. Nearly 11.5 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide in 2016. The Big Island contributed more than 9,400 shoeboxes and the state’s total was more than 46,000.

Shoeboxes are being collected at the following East Hawaii locations:

• 3-5 p.m. today through Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday at Hilo Missionary Church, 1044 Komohana St.

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today through Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday through Monday at Puna Covenant Church, 16-647 Old Volcano Road, Keaau.

• Noon-2 p.m. Monday, 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday through Friday and noon-2 p.m. Saturday through Monday at First Assembly of God, 28-1104 Old Mamalahoa Highway, Hamakua.

• 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Big Island Toyota, 811 Kanoelehua Ave., Hilo.

For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ or call 987-7373.

It’s time to spread good news and great joy around the world through the gift of a shoebox.

From Nov. 13-20, the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts —filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items — and delivers them to children in need around the world. For many of the young recipients, the gift-filled shoebox is the first present they have ever received.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 146 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

In 2017, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach an additional 12 million children. Nearly 11.5 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide in 2016. The Big Island contributed more than 9,400 shoeboxes and the state’s total was more than 46,000.

Shoeboxes are being collected at the following East Hawaii locations:

• 3-5 p.m. today through Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday at Hilo Missionary Church, 1044 Komohana St.

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today through Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday through Monday at Puna Covenant Church, 16-647 Old Volcano Road, Keaau.

• Noon-2 p.m. Monday, 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday through Friday and noon-2 p.m. Saturday through Monday at First Assembly of God, 28-1104 Old Mamalahoa Highway, Hamakua.

• 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Big Island Toyota, 811 Kanoelehua Ave., Hilo.

For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ or call 987-7373.