While some McMinnville families may be beginning to plan their holiday activities, some local volunteers are focused on filling empty shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, hygiene items and notes of encouragement for needy children overseas. These volunteers are encouraging Warren County residents to participate in the world’s largest holiday project of its kind – Operation Christmas Child – an effort that has hand-delivered 86 million gifts to kids worldwide since 1993.This project of Samaritan’s Purse is coming to its peak in the coming weeks as national collection week is set for Nov. 14-21. During that eight-day span, shoeboxes can be dropped off in McMinnville at First United Methodist Church at 200 W. Main Street.