Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child 2023

One of the programs sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse is Operation Christmas Child (OCC), sometimes known as the shoebox program. Shoeboxes are collected in mid-November and delivered to children around the world. When delivering the shoeboxes, Samaritan’s Purse includes “The Greatest Gift,” a gospel booklet in the language of each child recipient. Samaritan’s Purse’s website and their Facebook page have shared many stories of children and their families who have opened their hearts to Christ because of the gospel booklet included in their shoebox.

PACKING TIPS

Remove all packaging from items except toothbrushes and batteries.

Shoeboxes must close completely.

A child may only get one shoebox, ever. Make it count!

Definitely pack school supplies and hygiene items, and a few toys too.

Coloring sheets can be printed off the computer and folded.

You can add a personal note, an email address and/or pictures to your box.

Any item can be included in the box unless it is on the ‘do not pack’ list.

PACKING A SHOEBOX

Get a shoebox – new, used, plastic, paper, whatever you have. You can wrap it in fun paper, draw on it inside and/or outside, or leave it plain. Be sure the lid is separate and can open and close. If you wrap, please wrap lid separately.

Choose boy or girl and age category (2-4 years, 5-9 years, or 10-14 years)

Please pack with hygiene items and school supplies. You can also pack clothing, shoes, toys, tools, etc. Suggestions include Toothbrush, comb, washcloth, soap, pencils (some children are not allowed to go to school unless they have their own pencils!), sharpeners, crayons, erasers, glue sticks, coloring pages, small notebook/paper, calculator with batteries (or solar power is good – Walmart and Dollar Tree have them for a little over a dollar), markers, socks, underwear, bandanas, t-shirts, hats, gloves, scarves, matchbox cars, balls, stuffed animals, dolls, card games, puzzles, Legos, sunglasses, flashlight with batteries, sewing kit (yes, you can send scissors), fishing kit (see below), work gloves, tools, a personal note, photographs - the list is endless! You can also find great shoebox ideas on pinterest.com

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/

DO NOT INCLUDE Candy; toothpaste; gum; used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures; chocolate or food; seeds; fruit rolls or other fruit snacks; drink mixes (powdered or liquid); liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.

I will share the fishing kit I give to boys in the older age group: sinkers (found non-lead ones online), 2-3 corks or plastic bobbers, hooks (yes, they are allowed in OCC shoe boxes), 4-5 yards of fishing line (wrapped around cardboard or a piece of plastic), lures, nail clippers or small scissors. All goes in a small sealable plastic box from Dollar Tree or Dollar General. I tape a picture or silhouette of a child fishing on the plastic box holding all the fishing equipment, and often include a pair of pliers in the shoebox.

Please include a donation of $10 for each shoebox – either cash or a check made out to Samaritan’s Purse is acceptable. Total amount of cash or check can be placed inside one shoe box to cover one or multiple shoe boxes packed.

What is the $10 suggested donation per box? (from frequently asked questions on OCC website)

“The $10 per shoebox is a suggested donation. This amount is critical to cover project costs involved in collecting, processing, and shipping your shoebox gifts to over 100 countries. It also provides for ministry materials such as The Greatest Gift Gospel Booklet and The Ministry Partner Guide. We encourage those who are unable to include $10 per box to consider asking a group in their church or a family member to sponsor this part of the shoebox gift”.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/the-journey-of-a-shoebox/

Mark the appropriate gender and age group for the shoe box, then tape the label securely on the outside top end of the shoebox, so it will go to the correct child. Place a rubber band around your box to keep it closed. Shoe boxes must close completely. Repeat for each shoe box.

Want to Follow Your Box? Do not use the above label. Donate your $10 at the Samaritan’s Purse website online, then print out a special label with a barcode for your shoebox. When your box is delivered to a child, you will be notified of your shoebox’s destination by email.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/follow-your-box/

PRAY for the child that will receive your box(es).

Drop off your shoebox(es) at Amissville UMC by Sunday November 12th, 2023.

OR an OCC Collection Center will take shoeboxes during National Collection Week – November 13-20, 2023. Check the website below in late October 2023 for drop off locations near you. Check this website also for the address, directions and specific drop off time for each location.

https://samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/

Build a Shoebox Online – $25

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/

Videos

https://video.samaritanspurse.org/channel/operation-christmas-child/occ-dvd/

From OCC “frequently asked questions” under the heading “Global Influence of Operation Christmas Child”

How do shoebox gifts impact local economies?

“The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to provide local churches who are our ministry partners around the world with shoebox gifts as a way to reach children in their communities. For many children, this is the first gift they will ever receive. More important than the items inside the shoebox, the gifts are an opportunity to share God’s love—and the Good News of Jesus Christ—with children in need.

In each shoebox receiving country, we partner with a National Leadership Team that consists of year-round volunteers from various church denominations. Together, they strategize how to reach children in their country with the Gospel. It is our desire to give one shoebox to a child in his or her lifetime, and this is the model used in our training. Local churches distribute shoebox gifts to children in different communities each year to avoid giving the same children gifts year after year. Because of this strategy, the economic impact on a community is minimal and allows us to reach millions of new children every year with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We disciple thousands of these boys and girls each year, with millions now sharing their faith with their friends, family, and beyond.

According to Henry Manthanamba, Operation Christmas Child prayer coordinator in Malawi, “If shoebox gifts impacted our local economy negatively, the government would never allow them. They see it as a blessing to the children of Malawi.”

Is this project forcing religion on the child who gets a gift?

“Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child seek to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way through each shoebox gift. One of our core values is to never be manipulative. We work in and through volunteers in each country who understand the local culture and context and are respectful to the people they serve. At the same time, we do seek to share the Gospel wherever we go, which can be challenging at times. In some regions, we are not permitted to distribute literature, but we are still grateful for the opportunity to bless the children with gift boxes carefully prepared by people who want them to know they are loved. Boys and girls do not have to do or say anything to receive their gifts”.

December 2022 celebrated Samaritan’s Purse’s 200 Millionth shoebox. Read here how OCC was begun in 1993 by Franklin Graham and a few others who want to help children in Bosnia, and how the program expanded to ensure every child world-wide receiving a shoe box had the opportunity to learn about Jesus.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/200th-million-shoebox-gift-celebrated-in-charlotte/

Mission Statement: ” Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”. (from website)

Other programs sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse

International Crisis Response

Operation Christmas Child

The Greatest Journey

U.S. Disaster Relief

World Medical Mission

Greta Home and Academy

Children’s Heart Project

Operation Heal Our Patriots