Be a holiday hero: Drop off a shoebox of goodies in Boise for children worldwide in need

The holiday season is coming up quickly, which means special family gatherings filled with home-cooked food and most likely gift-giving.

How about becoming part of a global children’s charity program where your gift could be a child’s first gift — ever? I know, talk about warm fuzzies all over.

Donate a gift-filled shoebox to give poverty-stricken children overseas a Christmas of their own through the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Just pack a shoebox, cardboard or plastic, with one “major” item like a doll or soccer ball, and then fill the remaining space with smaller toys, school supplies and personal care items. Feel free to gift-wrap it — lid and box separately.

Figure out a label and shipping cost at samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box. You can also purchase printed cardboard or plastic shoeboxes on the site if you don’t have one of your own.

Then drop off the shoebox at a collection site near you. Use the drop-off locator at samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child. Sites are available in Boise and surrounding areas, and are open for collection now through Monday, Nov. 21.

“Now more than ever, children around the world need to know that God loves them and there is hope,” said Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and president of Samaritan’s Purse, in a press release.

Samaritan’s Purse calls itself a “nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world,” according to its website.

For more information, go to samaritanspurse.org.