Samaritan's Purse Celebrates 9.1 Million Shoebox Gifts Collected for Children in Need

BOONE, N.C., Jan. 13, 2021—Despite a global pandemic, millions of shoebox packers shared the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Some 7.8 million gifts were brought to curbside drop-off locations nationwide for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2020, the ministry is now sending more than 9.1 million shoebox gifts to children around the world.

Each gift-filled shoebox—packed with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 188 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

“We thank God that even in the middle of a pandemic, generous men, women, children, families, and churches were moved to pack millions of shoebox gifts,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “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.”

Many children who receive shoebox gifts will also enroll in Operation Christmas Child’s 12‑lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey. This program teaches children about God’s amazing love and guides them through what it means to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Since 2009, more than 23 million children have participated in the program. Every child who graduates is given a New Testament in their own language.

Although local drop‑off locations for gifts are closed until Nov. 15 – 22, 2021, anyone can still be a part of this life changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline. More information about ways to get involved year round can also be found on at samaritanspurse.org/occ.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 186 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.