Northeast El Paso County area individuals, families, churches and groups are working to make Christmas a reality for needy kids around the world by filling shoe boxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement. Operation Christmas Child, the worldís largest Christmas project of its kind, is ramping up as residents prepare to collect 27,800 gift-filled shoeboxes during National Collection Week ñ Nov. 18 through Nov. 25.There are several locations in the area, including Black Forest and Calhan, where anyone can drop off a shoebox gift filled with goodies to send to a child overseas. Using whatever means necessary ñ trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants ñ the shoebox gifts will be delivered to children worldwide. For many children, the shoebox gift will be the first gift they have ever received.Collection sites and drop-off times:Vista Grande Baptist Church5680 Stetson Hill Blvd.†††719-598-2139††††††††Monday through Friday ñ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday ñ 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5:30 p.m.First Baptist Church of Black Forest†††††††††10915 Black Forest Road719-495-2586Mondays: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.Living Word Community Church532 Colorado Ave. in Calhan719-347-2200Monday through Friday ñ 6 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday ñ 2 to 6 p.m.; Sunday ñ 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Mondays ñ 9 to 11 a.m.For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 303-745-9179 or visit http://samaritanspurse.org.†
