Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes to Be Collected Sunday, November 20

Christ Community Church will be participating in Operation Christmas Child again this year. Boxes and brochures are available in the narthex. Collection date will be Sunday, November 20.

What is Operation Christmas Child?

The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the shoebox is the first gift they ever receive.

Process

Anyone can pack a shoebox. Individuals, families, churches, and groups fill empty shoeboxes with the types of items listed above. However, please 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.

Participants are also encouraged to donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination.

Participants who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

History

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 188 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories. In 2022, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 10 million children.

Franklin Graham

Franklin Graham is the President & CEO of Samaritan’s Purse. He writes, “These gifts open the door for us to share God’s love and the eternal hope of the Gospel with children and their families who are living in desperation and fear. The world is changing, but the message of the cross doesn’t change—bringing the hope of the Gospel to millions, especially the living hope of Jesus. Our mission never changes.”

Thank you for your participation in this year’s Operation Christmas Child project!