Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through simple, gift-filled shoe boxes and evangelistic materials that tell the Good News of God’s love.
There are many ways you can participate. Families can do a gift-filled shoe box together, or individuals can team up with another friend to do a shoe box. We will have a bin available to collect individual items if you do not want to fill a complete shoebox.
It is a wonderful way of sharing God’s love. Packed shoe boxes will be collected on Sunday, November 13th. The boxes then begin their journey to the local collection center and then on to children in need around the world.
Cash donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church. Volunteers will assemble additional shoe boxes using the individual items donated plus gifts purchased with the cash donations. Finally, Pray! Pray that God will touch the heart of every child who receives a shoe box gift, and that He will bring many children and families to faith in Christ.
For more information, check out the Operation Christmas Child website.
How To Pack A Shoe Box
- Shoe Box: Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.
- Boy or Girl: Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.
- Fill With Gifts: Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.
- Include $7 Donation: Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our “Follow Your Box Donation” option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.
- Drop Off: Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week, November 14-21.
For locations and hours of collection visit Samaritan’s Purse Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.
You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607
