How to Pack a Shoebox
Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes.
Each box packed full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items becomes a tangible expression of God's immense love for the child. For many, it is their first gift ever! Delivered by our local church partners, shoebox gifts provide an opportunity to present the Gospel to boys and girls in a clear, child-friendly way.
1Find a Shoebox
Start with an average-size cardboard or plastic shoebox. If you want to wrap it, cover the box and lid separately. You can use your own shoeboxes or order our colorful preprinted ones, available in both cardboard and plastic. These sturdy options hold up well and can be lasting gifts in themselves for children to store cherished items.
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Preprinted Cardboard Shoeboxes
Purchase a pack of 50 for $33.
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Preprinted Plastic Shoeboxes
Purchase a pack of 12 for $25.
2Get Your Label
Whichever you choose, use the label to indicate on your shoebox whether it was packed for a boy or girl and which age category: 2–4, 5–9, or 10–14.
Zero
This single page contains 10 basic labels for you to cut out and affix to 10 shoebox gifts. It is designed in color, but can be printed or copied in black-and-white as well.
Download
As you checkout, print your unique label or save it to your computer. This label is already activated and can be printed as many times as needed to cover the shoebox gifts you packed.
Take care not to cover the barcode with tape or damage it in any way as this can affect scanning.
Adhesive Shoebox Label Sets
Includes How-to-Pack instructions on back
Order a set of 50 adhesive shoebox labels for your shoebox packing.
Scan or enter the code on your label to give your suggested $10 donation online and activate tracking for your label. This step is not necessary to use the label, but it will allow you to discover the destination of your shoebox.
Entire sets of 50 labels can be activated simply by entering the nine-digit code on one label and selecting the option to activate the whole pack. If you need a single label, consider ordering our brochure that includes a label.
For more than 30 sets (1,500 labels), contact occinfo@samaritan.org.
3Fill with Gifts
Select a medium to large "wow" item such as a soccer ball with pump or stuffed animal, then fill with other fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items. Don't forget to also include a personal note and photo—sometimes these are the child's favorite things to receive!
Or download and print our list of suggested gifts.
4Pray
Most importantly, "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17) for the child who will receive your shoebox gift.
Please also pray for:
- Their family to also be receptive to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
- The pastor of the church who delivers your shoebox gift.
- Their community to be transformed by the Gospel.
Join our Prayer Network and receive ways you can continue to pray for Operation Christmas Child.
5Donate $10 Per Shoebox
A donation of $10 per box is critical to cover evangelism materials, shipping, and other project costs. For easiest processing, you can give online through our Label Options or Ways to Give pages, or by mailing a check in the postage-paid envelope available in our printed brochure. If you use an online option on the Labels page, you can Follow Your Box and discover the destination of your gift.
6Drop Off
Take your shoebox gift to a local drop-off location during National Collection Week, Nov. 18–25, 2024.
After the Shoebox Gift...
Many shoebox recipients are also invited to participate in The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship course where they learn to know, grow in, and share Jesus Christ. Through 12 exciting lessons, the boys and girls are trained to share their faith with family and friends. These people, in turn, spread this news to still others. This dynamic process of evangelism and discipleship is multiplying churches even to the ends of the earth!
Helpful Links
- Watch a 'How To Pack' Video
- Resource Hub
- Lead Your Church/Group
- Ways to Volunteer
- Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions or suggestions? Email occinfo@samaritan.org
