Operation Christmas Child will set up collection sites around the area for holiday shoe boxes from Nov. 16 to Nov. 22. Sponsored by Samaritan's Purse National Relief, the project encourages participants to pack shoe boxes full of toys, school supplies and other gifts for children in more than 100 countries.

Local collection sites will be at Christian Life Center in Blacksburg, Pembroke United Methodist Church, Floyd Baptist Church and First Jefferson Church in Pulaski.

Participants can register their shoe box gifts and track their destinations through www.samaritanspurse.org. Call (800) 910-3578 for more information.

-- The Roanoke Times