ORRINGTON – Central Maine residents are joining millions of people across the U.S. to send more than 7 million gift-filled shoeboxes to hurting children around the world through “Operation Christmas Child,” a project of the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. National Shoe Box Collection Week will take place today through Nov. 24 at Calvary Chapel, 154 River Road, Orrington.

Participants may drop off filled shoeboxes between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Participants are encouraged to fill empty shoeboxes with toys, gifts, school supplies and necessities such as soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Samaritan’s Purse then hand-delivers the boxes to indigent boys and girls in more than 100 countries. The children also enjoy personal notes and family photos.

A $7 donation included in each box helps to defray shipping costs. The boxes are categorized by age and gender and should be marked as such. Each participant should select, for each box they donate, items intended for a boy or girl in one of the following age groups: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14.