One of the largest and best organized campaigns of its kind is now in full swing. Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoe box program, has ramped up its activity with collections beginning on November 17th and extending through November 24^th (U.S. dates, your country may be different).

Operation Christmas Child is a gift giving campaign that seeks to
deliver presents to eight million children in more than one hundred countries, shoe boxed packed gifts filled with toys, personal and school supplies, and other small goodies that any child will cherish.

For most recipients, the gift is an unexpected pleasure as their families do not have the means to provide what to us is really a simple gift. Along with the boxes, teams of Samaritan Purse volunteers distribute gospel literature to share with the children and their families the greatest gift of all time: Jesus Christ.

Our family has been participating in this program for quite a few years and we always pack four boxes, two for boys, two for girls. We generally start setting stuff aside at back to school time when we pick up school supplies for our children.

Basically, we’ll snap up extra boxes of crayons, pencils, pens, and other small items and set them aside until November. In the interim, my wife and I pick up hard candies, small toys, and other fun stuff for children and set aside an hour or so on the weekend to pack the boxes with our children.

The shoe box campaign has proven to be an excellent way for us to demonstrate to our children how they can effectively help someone in the name of the Lord, allowing them to add notes, pray for the gift recipients, and bring the boxes to a central collection point. The last few years our church has collected shoe boxes, but we’ve also taken them to a YMCA and wouldn’t hesitate dropping them off elsewhere if needed.

For more information on Operation Christmas Child including how to pack your boxes, ministry information, alternate giving ideas, and where to find a local drop off point, please visit the Samaritan Purse website to learn more.

Why not bless a child this year with a shoe box filled with love?

Samaritan’s Purse Targets 8 Million Boxes This Season

Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift drive is about to begin, with collection dates set at various times in

November, depending on what country you live in. In the US, that week is November 17-24, a time when shoe boxes should be turned in to local collection points. From there, shoe boxes are transported to regional distribution centers where they are inspected and prepared for delivery to as many as eight million children in more than 100 countries.

Since the program was launched in 1993, more than 61 million boxes have been collected and distributed. As part of preparing for the campaign, Samaritan’s Purse asks that donors do the following:

Pray — The most important part of packing a shoe box is praying for the child who will be receiving your box. Although you won’t necessarily know who the recipient is, you can ask God to use your gift to reveal His love to the child in a special way and to draw that child to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Pack — Lots of stuff can be packed in a shoebox including personal hygiene items, hard candy, school supplies, toys, and a personal note to the child. Find age appropriate material for the child that you want to help who will range in age from 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14; keep in mind whether you are packing for a boy or for a girl.

Samaritan’s Purse asks that you include a $7 check for each box that you pack as that money will defray shipping costs. You can find drop off locations by visiting Samaritan Purse’s website.

Give — Working with church partners around the world, Samaritan’s Purse makes available special Discipleship Program material and New Testaments for children who want them. Children who complete the Discipleship Program receive a New Testament, a program where you can contribute funds to separately if you desire. Donations can be made online or you can add those funds to your check and place it in your shoe box.

My Personal Involvement With Operation Christmas Child

For the record, I’m not directly tied in with Samaritan’s Purse, but have been a long time supporter of Operation Christmas Child. When I contacted them earlier this summer about providing public relations work, they mentioned that their greatest need is for more boxes. Therefore, I’m sharing that information with you, asking that you prayerfully consider how God would use you to respond.

Over the next few weeks, millions of people from around the world will be packing shoe boxes and dropping them off at collection centers. Feel free to share your experiences with Operation Christmas Child by leaving a comment at the end of this article. Ideas, tips, and other information you have to share can inspire so many others to contribute this year.

Let’s not allow the current economic climate stop us from participating in a wonderful event. Our God isn’t impacted by what goes on in the world, but we can impact the world one soul at a time by helping out in constructive ways including packing a shoe box for a child and bringing hope to them. Ask God to supply what you need to meet the needs of others — you’ll be glad that you did!

Addendum — Participating Countries

Lest I forget our friends from around the world who participate in Operation Christmas child, the following list and links are for the eleven countries where shoe boxes are collected and sent out. Thanks to The Gospel Report I can give you links to nine of the eleven websites, but our friends in Austria and Finland will have to search for that information locally: