The power of a simple gift: That's what Operation Christmas Child hoped to show as it began its national collection week Monday.

Operation Christmas Child, a part of Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, distributes shoeboxes filled with gifts to children worldwide each year. Monday marked the start of national collection week, during which volunteers and organizations can bring filled shoeboxes to drop-off locations in their area.

State College residents can take their shoeboxes to Grace Lutheran Church, 205 S. Garner St., through Nov. 23.

"It's a kids-helping-kids project that uses shoeboxes filled with simple gifts," said Charissa Clearman, mid-Atlantic media relations associate for Operation Christmas Child.

This year marks the seventh State College has taken part in the program. Last year, the State College collection grew from 1,350 shoeboxes from the year before to more than 5,700, collection center coordinator Marilyn Peterson said.

From the drop-off site, the shoeboxes are sent to six major collection centers across the country. From there, they are shipped overseas and hand-delivered to children who live in poverty because of war, disease and natural disasters, Peterson said.

"Many of these children have never seen a gift," she said. "The joy it brings to these children and the effect it has on them is something they will never forget."

Operation Christmas Child began in 1993 and has since collected more than 69 million shoeboxes and distributed them to children in more than 130 countries. Each year sees an increase in donations, Clearman said.

"Last year, we collected 8 million shoeboxes worldwide," she said. "This year, we are hoping for 8.2 million."

One feature of the program includes the donator's ability to track where their shoeboxes go.

Peterson encourages students to get together with their sororities, fraternities and clubs to pack a few shoeboxes. Gifts can be toys such as yo-yos and jacks, school supplies and stuffed animals, she said.

"Once the markers run out, children still have that stuffed animal to hold onto," Peterson said.

Ariana Papa (sophomore-marketing) said programs like this can have a tremendous effect.

"This is essential, because it allows for fortunate people to help others in a time of need," Papa said.

Anyone interested in donating or finding out more information can visit operationchristmaschild.org or samaritanspurse.org.