The national shoe box campaign for Operation Christmas Child has ended, as millions of gift boxes are now on the way to children around the world, with distribution taking place over the coming weeks and months. This year, the 100th million gift is expected to be delivered, for a campaign that is now in its 20th year.

If you missed this year’s campaign, you can still make a donation by either packing a shoe box and forwarding it to Samaritan’s Purse, or by making a financial contribution to help defray expenses including the airlifting of packages abroad. You can learn more about this project by visiting the Samaritan’s Purse website.

Sometimes, gift givers are not sure about the process that brings shoe boxes to children in more than 100 countries across the globe. Boxes are first sent to a collection point, typically to a church, a civic organization, a business or some other local drop off point. From that stop, shoe boxes are gathered and placed in large shipping cartons and sent to one of a half-dozen processing centers in the United States. There, volunteers look through each box to ensure that the donated items are appropriate and do not include perishable food, toy handguns or anything else that shouldn’t be shipped. Flagged items are replaced by new items, if necessary.

Once the shoe boxes have been inspected, they’ll be prepared for delivery. Samaritan’s Purse leases aircraft and makes use of sea shipping containers to transport the gifts abroad. While this process is unfolding, people are supporting the effort through prayer and churches in receiving countries make preparations to receive the gifts. Gifts typically arrive at local distribution points by truck or other conveyance.

When the shoe boxes arrive at the local distribution point, churches will have a distribution plan in place. Where possible, a church will hold what Samaritan’s Purse describes as “lively, fun event for children,” and invite the local community. Boxes are distributed without condition and where appropriate a gospel tract is presented to each gift recipient. The gospel message may be shared and children that receive the Lord Jesus Christ are invited to return for a 12-week discipleship program. All materials presented and the related instruction given are in the child’s own language as local churches and ministry partners spearhead the outreach.

The annual shoe box Christmas campaign is a year-round event that culminates in November through the collection of millions of shoe boxes with distribution beginning soon thereafter. You can track your shoe box to learn where it ends up. And, if you include your personal contact information, the child receiving your gift may write to you.

So, what makes Operation Christmas Child more than just a seasonal event? Well, that would be the work of an army of volunteers, including families, individuals and small groups that collect empty shoe boxes all year and shop for bargains, by timing some of their purchases for “back to school” season. Many participants are unsung heroes, people you may know nothing about, but have a kingdom impact that is being used mightily by God to harvest young souls.

Further Reading

Cherokee Times: Operation Christmas Child Started on Faith; Lauren Henry; Nov. 25, 2012

MetroWNY: Operation Christmas Child Sends Boxes of Goodies Around the World; Lizz Schumer; Nov. 24, 2012

Samaritan’s Purse: 100 Million Examples of God’s Love

Photos courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.