While most people in the U.S. are preparing for holiday activities, Marietta volunteers with Operation Christmas Child are attempting to fill 27,500 shoe boxess with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas.

Anyone can drop off a packed shoe box at one of three locations in the Marietta area. Then the shoe box gifts will be hand-delivered to children in 100 countries around the world.

Marietta Collection Sites

First Baptist Marietta: 148 Church St., Marietta 30060

• Thursday, Nov. 15: 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 16: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 17: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 18: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 19: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Mount Bethel United Methodist Church: 4385 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta 30068

• Thursday, Nov. 15: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 16: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 17: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 18: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 19: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Sandy Plains Baptist Church: 2825 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta 30066

• Thursday, Nov. 15: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 16: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 17: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 
• Sunday, Nov. 18: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 19: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Additional local collection sites can be found using the online Zip Code locator at samaritanspurse.org.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected more than 94 million shoe box gifts and hand-delivered them to children in more than 130 countries. This year, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect another 9 million gift-filled shoe boxes.

For more information, call (770) 777-9342 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.