WILLIAMSBURG — Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 18–25, Samaritan’s Purse announced.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster since 1993, and hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2024.
“Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us to share the hope of the Gospel with boys and girls around the world. Please pray that these simple gifts have an eternal impact.”
More than 4,700 drop-off locations will open across the country in November. Participants can find their nearest drop-off location and hours of operation online as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by city or ZIP code, and signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver them to children in need, and participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
According to Samaritan’s Purse, since the project’s launch, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
