Local volunteers are collecting simple shoe box gifts personally packed by children, families, and individuals here in Wilkes and Lincoln counties. From Wilkes and Lincoln counties, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary - sea containers, trucks, buses, trains, airplanes, helicopters, boats, camels, even dog sleds - to reach suffering children around the world.

"A pencil may mean very little to a child here in the U.S., however, many children around the world can't even attend school without basic school supplies," says Southeast Regional Manager, April Mack. "This project is an incredible opportunity to reach children who have nothing and bring joy into their lives. We encourage the community to help us reach our goal and take just a few moments to pack a shoe box gift next time they go to the store."

Local collection sites: First Baptist Church, 105 W. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington, Ga. 30673, 800-410- 5953: Mon., Nov. 17 - Tues., Nov. 18, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Wed., Nov. 19, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Thus., Nov. 20 - Fri., Nov. 21, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sat., Nov. 22, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sun., Nov. 23, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Mon., Nov. 24, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Morningside Baptist Church, 483 Elm St., Lincolnton, Ga. 30187: Mon., Nov. 17 - Fri. Nov. 21, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sat., Nov. 22, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sun., Nov. 23 - Mon., Nov. 24, 9 a.m. -1 p.m.

To find the closest location in your area go to www.samaritan spurse.org. Right now you can join the effort to help the world's largest Christmas project hand-deliver some 8 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 90 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine, and poverty .

What you can do to get involved:

.. Prepare - Enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide.

.. Pack - Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

.. Process - Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at collection sites in Wilkes and Lincoln counties as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse headed by Franklin Graham, has delivered more than 61 million giftfilled shoe boxes to needy children in some 130 countries.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 770-777-9342 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week is Nov. 17-24.