Christmas is arriving early in Fond du Lac as a local church prepares to serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child.

Soon, with the help of Fond du Lac volunteers, Community Church will be brimming with festively wrapped shoeboxes full of gifts.

Through Operation Christmas Child, Fond du Lac residents will pack shoebox with gifts for children in more than 100 countries coping with natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.

At Marietta, Ga., the shoebox gifts will be sorted and sent to children around the world.

"Operation Christmas Child is a unique opportunity to do something as simple as packing a shoebox that will have a lasting impact on a child a world away," said Alan Kennedy, Operation Christmas Child drop-off site coordinator.

Participants are asked to fill shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, hard candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoebox packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Community Church, N6717 Streblow Drive, will serve as the drop-off point for shoeboxes. Collection times are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, through Friday, Nov. 20; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21 and 22; and noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23.

Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to "follow your box" to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need.

In 2008, the Fond du Lac area contributed 6,056 shoebox gifts to the Operation Christmas Child effort. This year, organizers hope to collect even more gift-filled shoeboxes from families, children, churches, schools and civic organizations in the area.