Although drop-off locations have closed, there is still time to send a message of love and hope to those children and show them, “God loves you and you’re not forgotten,” by packing a gift-filled shoe box online. 

The shoe boxes built online go to some of the hardest-to-reach areas in the world, a release said. Those who want to participate can select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender by visiting samaritanspurse.org/buildonline then add a photo and personal note of encouragement to the virtual shoe box.

Operation Christmas Child’s purpose is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. The global project has collected and delivered more than 198 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories since 1993. This year Operation Christmas Child will collect its 200-millionth shoe box, according to the release.

For more information about how to participate in Operation Christmas Child visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.