Gifts needed for Operation Christmas Child project

Local businesses, churches and homes are preparing to serve as collection points for Operation Christmas Child.

Soon, with the help of donations, the sites will be brimming with shoe boxes full of gifts. Through Operation Christmas Child, Lake County residents will pack gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.

Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to "follow your box" to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need.

Lake County Drop Off Sites include: Crossroads Church, 1350 Route 137, Grayslake, (800) 410-7658; and Snickelfritz Toys, 208 Hawthorn Shopping Center, Vernon Hills, (847) 918-8160.

For a complete list of the 25 local drop off locations, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ . The above locations are both drop off locations and relay centers. For more information, call (800) 410-7658. National Collection Week is Nov. 16-23.