National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child will run Nov. 13 to Nov. 20. Boxes may be dropped off at the Niles Adventist School, 110 N. Fairview St. in Niles.

This is the 21st year that Michiana teams have helped collect the boxes at a central drop-off location ministry. This year, the team is anticipating receiving more than 36,500 boxes with gifts, between the Niles location and a location in Chesterton, Indiana.

Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts filled with school supplies, personal hygiene items, small toys and puts them in the hands of the poorest children in over 100 countries. 

For many of these children this will be their first gift.  The organization says the boxes can  make a tremendous impact on the lives of children and their families.

Visit samaritanspurse.org/occ for further information.

To drop off boxes, visit the Niles Adventist School during open hours:

• 8 to 11 a.m. Monday

• 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday

• 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday

• Noon to 2 p.m. Friday

• 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday

• 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

• 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20