Operation Christmas Child will collect shoeboxes in November for needy children throughout the world. The Samaritan’s Purse project collects and delivers the gifts to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, it is the first present they have ever received. This ministry provides an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, not only to the children, but their parents and other family members as well.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 198 million shoebox gifts to children across the world. In 2022, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough to reach another 11 million children worldwide, with 9.4 million of the boxes coming from the U.S.
Locally, the 2022 goal in Richmond 55,122 donation filled shoeboxes.
How do I pack a shoebox?
Anyone can pack a shoebox. Individuals, families, churches and groups fill empty shoeboxes with school supplies, personal hygiene items, and small toys, such as stuffed animals, dolls. or soccer balls.
Learn how to pack a shoebox and view gift suggestions at samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants are encouraged to donate $10 per shoebox for shipping. You may include a check in the box or pay online through Follow Your Box. If you pay online, you will receive a tracking label which enables tracking to its destination. Do not include candy, toothpaste, used or damaged items, war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures, seeds, chocolate or food, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items, such as snow globes or glass containers, or aerosol cans. If you prefer contactless delivery of boxes, you may build custom shoeboxes online for a donation of $25 per box. The URL for these contactless options is: www.samaritanspurse.org/buildonline.
National Collection Week is Nov. 14 – 21, 2022. Samaritan’s Purse will collect the boxes at more than 4,000 drop-off locations in all fifty states and Puerto Rico.
Shoebox drop-off locations in Richmond are here.
