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Instead of a traditional birthday party, Ella, who turns 9 Saturday, Nov. 19, wants to send shoe boxes stuffed with gifts to kids around the world through Operation Christmas Child, a project of the Christian organization Samaritan's Purse.

For her seventh birthday, Ella packed about 100 boxes. When she turned 8, she went for 200. And now she's raising the bar again.

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1825 N. Alvernon Way, will host the packing party 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Ella's family is still asking for $7 donations to ship the shoe boxes; donations of school supplies, hygiene items and toys to stuff the boxes and volunteers to help pack, according to press materials. Those can be brought to the church during the party.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, visit .