Drive collects gifts for children in need

Honolulu coordinators of Operation Christmas Child hope to collect more than 18,500 shoe-box gifts during a weeklong effort.

Gifts collected Nov. 16-23 will be delivered to children in need around the world, according to a news release.

Jennifer Trevithick, Hawaii director of Operation Christmas Child, said in the release, "Through the simple act of filling a shoe box, someone here in Honolulu can make a tangible difference in the life of a child halfway around the world. Anyone can participate and bring joy to a child facing difficult circumstances."

Ten churches will serve as drop-off points for decorated shoe boxes packed with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement during the annual project’s national collection week. Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization, sponsors the Christmas drive. This year’s global goal is to provide gifts to 11 million children overseas, the release said.

Anyone may put together a shoe-box gift on their own with instructions available at samaritanspurse.org/occ and can track where their box will be delivered to on the same website.

Shoe box collection sites

A complete list of drop-off locations, searchable by ZIP code, is available at samaritanspurse.org/occ. Collection sites on Oahu include:

>> Door of Faith-Honolulu, 1161 Young St. Gifts accepted Nov. 16-20, 10 a.m. to noon and 2-7 p.m.; Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to noon; Nov. 22, noon to 7 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m.

>> Honolulu Central Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2313 Nuuanu Ave. Gifts accepted Nov. 16-20, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 21, 1:30-5:30 p.m.; Nov. 22, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

>> Hickam Chapel Center, 180 Kuntz Ave., Building 1750, Hickam Air Force Base. Gifts accepted Nov. 16-21, 2-6 p.m.; Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 2-6 p.m.

>> Hawaii Kai Church, 265 Lunalilo Home Road. Gifts accepted Nov. 16-20, 4-6 p.m.; Nov. 21-22, 12:30-2:30 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 4-6 p.m.

>> Windward Church of the Nazarene, 45-285 Kaneohe Bay Drive. Gifts accepted Nov. 16, 9-11 a.m.; Nov. 17, 2-4 p.m.; Nov. 18, 4-7 p.m.; Nov. 19, 3-7:30 p.m.; Nov. 20, 10 a.m. to noon; Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Nov. 22, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 3-6 p.m.

>> Kailua Pentecostal Church, 298 Kakahiaka St. Gifts accepted Nov. 16, 18 and 20, 5-7 p.m.; Nov. 17 and 19, 10 a.m. to noon and 5-7 p.m.; Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m.; Nov. 22, 3-5 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to noon.

>> Mililani Baptist Church, 94-293 Anania Drive. Gifts accepted Nov. 16-18, noon to 4 p.m.; Nov. 19-20, noon to 6 p.m.; Nov. 21-22, noon to 4 p.m.; and Nov. 23, noon to 2 p.m.

>> Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor, 94-1044 Waipio Uka St. Gifts accepted Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Nov. 17, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2-4:30 p.m.; Nov. 18, 3-6 p.m.; Nov. 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.; Nov. 20, 2-5 p.m.; Nov. 21 and 23, 10 a.m. to noon; and Nov. 22, 1-3 p.m.

>> Trinity Lutheran Church, 1611 California Ave. Gifts accepted Nov. 16-20, 2-5 p.m.; Nov. 21, noon to 2 p.m.; Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 2-5 p.m.

>> Calvary Chapel of Honolulu, 98-1016 Komo Mai Drive. Gifts accepted Nov. 16-21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Nov. 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.; Nov. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.; and Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.