Local volunteers are collecting simple shoe box gifts including toiletries, toothbrushes, school supplies, and candy. The items will be to be sent to needy children around the world to be delivered at Christmas time as part of Operation Christmas Child.

Organizers hope to fill 200 shoe boxes in St. Ignace from Monday, November 17, through Monday, November 24.

Maureen Brady at The Emporium on North State Street is among those gathering school supplies. Donations can be dropped off at The Emporium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and by appointment Sunday.

Local boxes will be combined with eight million gift-filled shoe boxes from across the county that will be sent to children in 90 countries

that have experienced suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism,

disease, famine, and poverty.

Residents can help by enlisting families, churches, Scout troops, community groups, and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org and include filling shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy, and a letter of encouragement. Those interested also can sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at collection sites in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, has delivered more than 61 million boxes to children in about 130 countries.