The holiday season is fast approaching.

With it comes Operation Christmas Child’s “Christmas in a Shoebox” drive.

Sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse – Franklin Graham, who is the son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham, heads this ministry – the project looks to provide shoeboxes serving as gifts to war-torn and Third World countries or places recently stricken by disaster such as Joplin, Mo. (tornado) along with New Jersey and Vermont (floods from Hurricane Irene).

Items can be anything that can fit inside a shoebox: Hygiene products, small toys, school supplies, clothes, or even shoes.

Locally, “Christmas in a Shoebox” is underway.

The collection will take place at Calvary Community Church, 815 W. Lathrop Road, Manteca, from Nov. 14 through 21.

“Join us in our efforts to reach our goal of 20,000 boxes this year,” said Nancy Wright. “By that, more children in impoverished conditions will receive their own Christmas gift with the gift of love and hopes in Jesus’ name.”

She added that Operation Christmas Child can help supply groups and organizations interested in supporting this worthwhile endeavor with the necessary fliers and materials to start packing shoeboxes with gifts.

Last year, the “Christmas in a Shoebox” made possible 8.2 million gifts to children between the ages of 2 to 12 from 12 countries.

Since 1993, over 85 million boxes have been collected and delivered to some 88 Third World Countries.

Yet, according to Operation Christmas Child, over 140 million children have never received a shoebox gift.

More information can be obtained by logging on to www.samaritanspurse.org/ccc or contacting Wright at (209) 612-1524.