More than 11.4 million Children in Need to Receive Christmas Gifts this Year
BOONE, N.C., Feb. 24, 2017 — Because of the generosity of donors across the United States, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, collected more than 9.1 million shoeboxes packed with fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items—and prayer! Combined with shoebox gifts collected from partnering countries in 2016, the ministry is now sending more than 11.4 million shoebox gifts to children suffering from poverty, natural disasters, war, disease and famine.
“I’ve seen it firsthand for more than 20 years—these shoebox gifts bring hope to children around the world and show them the love of Jesus Christ,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “For many of these boys and girls, it is the first gift they have ever received, and they will never forget it.”
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 2010, more than 11 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 November 2017, shoeboxes can still be packed and sent year-round to Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina (801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607). Anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift at samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can also challenge others to pack boxes online with them or use a shoebox gift card to share the opportunity with friends and family.
Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, more than 146 million Operation Christmas Child gift-filled shoeboxes have been distributed to children in more than 160 countries and territories. To learn about year-round volunteer opportunities or to serve with Operation Christmas Child, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.
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