Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week: November 16-23, 2015

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It's that time of year again.  Time to participate in the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind: Operation Christmas Child. The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many families, churches and groups.  They spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with a “Wow!” item—like a doll or soccer ball—other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement.

I had the great privilege of going to Lima, Peru, in 2008 to help hand out some of those shoeboxes to children in need through local churches.  To read my story, follow this link and read several posts from my trip.  It was an unforgettable experience.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 124 million children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, a gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.  You would not believe the places these shoeboxes can be delivered for just $7 per box!


With a computer or mobile device, you can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website at samaritanspurse.org/occ.  You can even select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them in a shoebox online. Using special tracking technology, we can follow our boxes to discover where in the world our gifts are delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries, and they are distributed through local churches so life-changing connections can be made with the body of Christ. 

Drop-off locations can be found at this link.

You can volunteer for year-round positions at this link.  It's a very rewarding experience.

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