BOONE, N.C. — Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, and volunteers in Virginia are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week Nov. 17-24.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, “seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster.
The organization notes it has collected and delivered more than 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories and hopes to reach another 12 million children in 2025.
Those who are interested in participating can 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 the shoeboxes to children in need. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online to “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.
“Samaritan’s Purse works around the world to help people in need, but it’s not about good works— it’s about the Gospel,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Please prayerfully consider packing a shoebox this year with Operation Christmas Child. These simple gifts open the door for us to share the true meaning of Christmas.”
Participants can find their nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. The online lookup tool is searchable by City or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop-off.
