Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child

 Do you know what time is it?

 It’s time to pack shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.  Operation Christmas Child was founded by Franklin Graham in 1993.  Since that date, over 200 million shoeboxes have been collected and distributed to children in over 170 countries.

Our family has made it a tradition to spread joy to children in need all around the world through Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. Both my husband and I have volunteered for several years in many areas of Operation Christmas Child process. We have worked the information table at church, handing out materials to participants, and explaining the mission of Operation Christmas Child.  We have also worked at our local processing center, checking each box for appropriate items and packing each shoebox into packing boxes so they can be loaded into trucks and sent to the distribution centers.  Participating in the program has become one of our favorite traditions that we started with our grandkids. We explain to our grandkids how the shoeboxes will reach children in different countries where some children have never received a gift or heard about the love of Jesus.  Each of the grandkids then writes a short letter to the recipient, telling them all about where they live and a few things about their life.  This is such a great opportunity to teach kids about giving to others who may not be as fortunate as they are and to help them understand the lesson of giving.

I love taking my grandkids to the stores and having them pick out items that will go into the shoeboxes.  This allows them to be a part of the process of giving to others and it’s a great opportunity for some bonding time with Grandma and Grandpa! 

This year we invited our neighbors and their 2 boys to join us at our small shoebox-packing party.  We had a great time with our grandkids and our neighbors filling the shoeboxes and telling the kids all about the message that Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child wants to present to everyone. 

Here are my granddaughters, Peyton and Brooklyn, with their finished shoebox!

And a few with the kids filling the shoeboxes!

So it’s not too late to pack a shoebox with your family!  Packing a Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox is a wonderful way to provide gifts and bring joy to children in need around the world during the holiday season. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to pack a shoebox:

1. Choose a standard shoebox:

• Use a standard-sized shoebox or a small plastic container with a lid.  You can also pick up free Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at participating locations.

2. Decide the age and gender of the child:

• Determine whether you want to pack a box for a boy or a girl and their age group (2-4, 5-9, or 10-14 years old).  This will help you choose appropriate items to put in the box.

3. Select a “WOW” item:

• Start by selecting a special gift that will “wow” the child, such as a stuffed animal, a soccer ball with a pump, or a quality toy.

4. Fill the shoebox with a variety of items:

• Consider a mix of small toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and other fun items.

5.  Include a donation:

• A suggested donation of $10 is requested to cover shipping and other program costs.  You can include this inside the shoebox by placing it in an envelope and laying it in the box.  If you pick up supplies from a participating organization they will have a label for the box with a tracking code for you to follow your box. Or you can donate online and receive your tracking label to follow the box’s journey.

6.  Label the shoebox:

• Use the tracking label provided when you donate online or simply mark the shoebox with the age and gender of the child it is intended for.

7.  Pray for the child:

• Say a prayer for the child who will receive your gift.

8.  Drop off your shoebox

• Locate a drop-off location near you during National Collection Week.  The deadline this year is November 19, 2023.  You can find the nearest drop-off locations on the Operation Christmas Child Website.

Remember, Samaritan’s Purse has specific guidelines regarding what can and cannot be included in the shoebox, so reviewing their official guidelines before packing your box is essential.  Below is the link for “How to Build a shoebox” on the Samaritan’s Purse website:

Samaritan’s Purse also offers an option to pack a shoebox online.  If you would rather do a virtual shoebox follow the link below:

https://sampur.se/3tkt4d6

Thank you for considering blessing a child this Christmas!  I hope that you and your family have as much fun as we did when creating these shoeboxes to provide a little joy in a child’s life.  

For more information please go to www.samaritanspurse.org/occ    

***Graceful Duo is not affiliated with or Sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse or Operation Christmas Child.