Oakdale’s The River Christian Community Church, 1351 E. G St., is a collection location this year for Operation Christmas Child.

The operation seeks to collect shoeboxes full of needed items and age and gender appropriate toys for children in need across the country and around the world. The program is part of Samaritan’s Purse, which has been helping meet holiday needs of children for decades.

“The River Christian Community Church in Oakdale is the newest Relay Center for the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox project,” said Marilyn Sena, a longtime volunteer. “This means that they will be open daily during the period of (Monday to Monday) November 17 to 24, to receive Shoeboxes from various churches, businesses and local citizens who want to contribute to the International program of packing a shoebox with hygiene items, school supplies, toys, and candy for underprivileged children around the world. They also receive tracts in their own language about God’s love for them.”

This year, under the leadership of local resident Elizabeth Greenlee, the church is joining other Relay Centers in Modesto, Turlock, Hughson, Lodi, Tracy, Ceres, Stockton, and Escalon, to reach the 2014 goal of 20,000 Shoeboxes collected in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties

For more information, contact Greenlee at 209-847-0278 or stop by the church Relay Center during the collection week.