BOONE, N.C., Sept. 30, 2014 — Whether it’s September or November, generous people across America believe the best time to make a difference is today. Volunteers are partnering year-round with the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to millions of needy children around the world. Through Operation Christmas Child, kids, families, churches and groups fill shoeboxes with items like toys, school supplies and hygiene items, creating gifts that can make a significant difference in the lives of hurting children around the world.
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 113 million children in more than 150 countries. In 2014, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 10 million children.
WHY NOW?
Sending hope to millions of children is a massive, year-round effort, and anyone can participate. U.S. volunteers are needed year-round.
HOW U.S. RESIDENTS CAN HELP:
- PACK A SHOEBOX GIFT—Fill shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement. At samaritanspurse.org, click on “Operation Christmas Child” for step-by-step packing instructions. The shoebox gift may be the first gift a child has ever received.
- VIRTUALLY PACK A SHOEBOX—Operation Christmas Child also offers the opportunity year-round to build a shoebox through an online tool offering a personalized and convenient way to send a gift to a child in one of the hardest-to-reach countries. Go to samaritanspurse.org and click on Operation Christmas Child to build a shoebox by selecting toys and gift items, writing a note of encouragement, and “packing” them in a shoebox.
- SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER—Volunteer opportunities are available at samaritanspurse.org Click on “Operation Christmas Child” for more details and information.
- SPREAD THE WORD—Help enlist individuals, families and groups to take part in creating shoebox gifts.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 1-800-353-5949 or visit samaritanspurse.org. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoeboxes is Nov. 17-24; however, shoebox gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.
Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their boxes online and discover the country in which their gifts will be delivered to children in need.