The Foursquare Gospel Church, located on Sullivan Road in Bradford, will once again be the local drop-off site for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 17 -24.

Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. Each year, millions of shoeboxes packed with gifts are collected and sent to needy children around the world. Last year, Operation Christmas Child collected enough shoe box gifts to reach 10 million children.

The Foursquare Gospel Church has participated in the project for the past 16 years and has been a drop-off site for six years.

Many churches in Bradford and the surrounding communities collect shoeboxes during the months of October and November, then bring them to the drop-off site to be processed and shipped. From Bradford, the shoeboxes are transported to a larger processing site in North Carolina, where they are prepared for overseas shipment. These gifts will then be delivered to children in more than 100 countries on six continents.

The Rev. Matthew McDonald, senior pastor of the church stated, “It is our pleasure, once again, to be a drop-off site, and we are very excited to be involved in this project in reaching needy children around the world with the love of God.” In 2013, this site collected and processed 1,450 boxes. “It is a wonderful opportunity for churches in and around Bradford to come together in support of a great cause,” said McDonald.

Shoeboxes will be collected from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 17-20; from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 21; from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 22; from 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 23; and from 8 to 9 a.m. Nov. 24. Many volunteers are needed to help process and pack the shoeboxes for shipment. Volunteers are asked to contact the church for more information.