More than 17,000 gift-filled shoeboxes were given by people in the Tri-Cities/ Eastern Oregon region for the 2016 Operation Christmas Child collection drive, which were collected shortly before Thanksgiving.

The project is part of an international effort coordinated by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief agency. The gifts are delivered to needy children across the globe.

Out of the 17,745 shoeboxes, 1,029 came from Pendleton donors and 1,684 from the Hermiston area, said Fay Smith, regional media coordinator.

“While this year’s overall regional collection total is 339 less than in 2015, it still reflects a very generous-hearted community that wants to send a message of hope and caring to thousands of children whose lives are wracked by wars, terrorism, famine and extreme poverty,” said Trisha MacFarlan, regional Operation Christmas Child coordinator.

The gift-filled containers came from youth and adult service and athletic groups, private schools, medical and dental offices, retirees, churches, families and individuals. All were ultimately brought to Bethel Church in Richland, loaded into two freight trucks and driven to the Los Angeles-area processing center for shipment.

Operation Christmas Child began in the United States 23 years ago by the organization founded by Franklin Graham. The project now involves supporters in a dozen countries. In 2015, donations added up to 11.2 million globally.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.