WILLIAMSBURG — National Collection Week has begun for Operation Christmas Child, a campaign to collect shoebox gifts of toys, school supplies, and personal care items for children in need, 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.
“Samaritan’s Purse is committed to taking the Gospel to hard-to-reach places — whether its responding to a disaster or sharing God’s love through the power of a simple shoebox,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “You can show kids in need the true meaning of Christmas this year through a shoebox gift. Please prayerfully consider packing a shoebox this year.”
There are more than 4,700 drop-off locations open around the country. Participants can find their nearest drop-off location and hours of operation online. The online lookup tool is searchable by city or ZIP code, and signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
A step-by-step guide can be found 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.
For more information, call 717-774-1920, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/
