Operation Christmas Child is collecting shoe-box gifts at several churches on Oahu until Monday and will deliver them to children overseas who are living in extreme poverty or affected by war, disease or natural disasters, a news release said.

Empty shoe boxes are decorated and filled with school supplies, hygiene items, toys and notes of encouragement. The annual project is sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham.

Hawaii contributed over 28,100 shoe boxes last year.

Churches that will be collecting gifts at various times and days include Hawaii Kai Church, 265 Lunalilo Home Road; One Love Windward, 1276 Kailua Road; Door of Faith — Honolulu, 1161 Young St.; Hickam Chapel Center, 180 Kuntz Ave., Building 1750, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; Calvary Chapel of Honolulu, 98-1016 Komo Mai Drive; Makakilo Baptist Church, 92-611 Makakilo Drive; Nanakuli Door of Faith Mission, 89-142 Haleakala Ave.; and Trinity Lutheran, 1611 California Ave. National collection week started Monday.

For more information on how to participate in the project, visit 808ne.ws /2g240QC. Participants can follow their box to discover where in the world it will be delivered for a donation, pack a shoe-box gift online and upload a photo and note of encouragement.