Shoebox
Stories
#shoeboxstories is a series by shoebox recipients who give a firsthand account of the eternal impact of a gift delivered in Jesus’ Name.

Yuliya received a shoebox at age 9 in a Central Asian country.
When I lifted the lid on my purple plastic shoebox, the first thing I saw was a stuffed dog. I was filled with exuberant joy! I just remember hugging it.
Even though I had toys growing up, the dog was an item you couldn’t find in my country. It was really soft and had puppy eyes. It was my new best friend, my newfound treasure.
My second favorite item was bubble gum-flavored toothpaste that came in a pink tube. We didn’t know such a thing existed. We would squeeze out a bit the size of the tip of a match so we could get a little bit of flavor and make it last as long as possible.
Word traveled fast. My friends would line up in our bathroom and my sister and I would squeeze out a tiny amount on their toothbrushes. I think we made it last about two years.
My third favorite item was an Etch A Sketch. At first we had no idea what it was. We kept pushing down on the buttons and asking, “Why is it not working?” After having it displayed on a shelf for a couple of months, my sister was dusting and she turned the knobs. When she saw the line going up and down on the screen she was so excited. The item we thought was broken was drawing!
The toys were the most important things to me as a 9-year-old but it also stood out that the letter in the box said, “I am praying for you.” As time went on, I realized why.
With my shoebox, here was someone I’d never met and never seen, yet she was still praying for me.
We became pen pals and she would always close her letters, “I am praying for you.” I always wondered, “Why is she praying for me?” The impact hit me more than seven years later after I became a Christian. She was showing me the love of Christ all along, starting with the shoebox and continuing in her prayers.
The shoebox was a seed. That’s how the Lord works. He patiently knocks on the door of our heart and waits until we open the door. Sometimes you see fruit right away and other times it takes years for the seed to grow.
I still have my stuffed dog 14 years later. That’s a glimpse of how much the shoebox meant to me because it was packed with love and prayer. It wasn’t just any dog. I could tell she specifically chose that dog for me and wanted to use it to communicate God’s love.
Note: Candy and toothpaste are no longer allowed in shoebox gifts due to customs regulations. We remain confident, however, that your gift will still delight a child in need.
Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy to millions of children around the world through shoeboxes lovingly and prayerfully packed with gifts that will bring delight to a child. In the hands of local churches, every gift-filled shoebox is a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship—transforming the lives of children and their families around the world through the Good News of Jesus Christ! After receiving shoebox gifts, boys and girls are invited to enroll in The Greatest Journey, our 12-lesson discipleship program where children learn what it means to faithfully follow Christ and share their faith with others.
Children who complete all 12 lessons receive a certificate at graduation. This official memento of their accomplishment is a treasured keepsake for many.
In addition to receiving a certificate, The Greatest Journey graduates receive a New Testament in their own language. This may be the first copy of the Scriptures they or their family have ever owned.
This colorful 12-lesson resource equips the student to follow along with the story, memorize verses, and do activities in class or as homework.
This in-depth manual helps instructors apply Bible stories to their students’ lives to encourage the boys and girls to re-tell them to others. With the help of this resource, The Greatest Journey teachers are taught to be good storytellers who ask questions of children to keep them engaged. This method allows nonliterate cultures to participate and equips teachers to continue discipleship lessons with their students long after they complete the workbook.
Examples include toothbrushes, combs, washcloths, etc.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
It only costs $6 to provide lesson books and a Bible for a boy or girl participating in this discipleship program by Samaritan’s Purse.
It only costs $10 to provide a Bible or Christian literature for a family in need through the Christmas catalog.
This booklet invites children to receive God’s Greatest Gift, His Son, Jesus Christ. It is used in more than 80 languages.
This resource equips local churches with information on how to organize a distribution, share the Gospel, and invite boys and girls to participate in follow-up discipleship.
Examples Include t-shirts (size adult large or smaller), socks, hats, gloves, sunglasses, hairclips, jewelry, watches, flashlights, batteries, plastic storage boxes, etc.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
Before being shipped overseas, each gift must be inspected and prepared. Millions of shoeboxes and thousands of volunteers take up a lot of space. You can help us each fall by donating empty warehouse space to be used as a processing center. A facility from 30,000 to 100,000 square feet is needed near Atlanta.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
After receiving a shoebox gift, many children have the opportunity to learn more about the Gospel through our Biblical discipleship program, The Greatest Journey. You can donate printing for leaders’ guides, lesson books, or New Testaments.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
It only costs $6 to provide lesson books and a Bible for a boy or girl participating in the Samaritan’s Purse discipleship program. Learn more →
provides one shoebox recipient with a 12-lesson Bible study, a graduation certificate, a New Testament in his or her language, and the guidance of a trained teacher/mentor in the community.
Only giving online through Follow Your Box will enable you to discover the destination of your shoebox gift.
Attach a Follow-Your-Box tracking label to your shoebox, and you can use our Lookup Tool to find out the country where your box will be delivered with the message of Christ’s love.
Your $9 per gift donation is critical in helping with shoebox processing, shipping, and gospel materials. Learn more →
A step-by-step suggested presentation of the Gospel appears in the Ministry Partner Guide along with a series of two-panel posters that illustrate the text. This guide fosters consistency in how the Good News is presented during Operation Christmas Child outreach events.
Este recurso a color de 12 lecciones permite al estudiante a seguir la historia, memorizar versículos, y hacer actividades en clase o como tarea en casa.
Completo con ilustraciones a color, este folleto de historias del Evangelio presenta a Cristo a niños y niñas y los invita a seguirlo. ¡Algunos niños consideran esta pieza de su caja de regalo como su favorita!
En la Guía de Compañeros de Ministerio aparece una presentación del Evangelio paso a paso, junto con una serie de posters de dos paneles que ilustran el texto. Esta guía promueve consistencia en cómo presentar las Buenas Nuevas durante los eventos de evangelismo de Operation Christmas Child.
Este manual detallado ayuda a los instructores a aplicar historias Bíblicas en las vidas de sus estudiantes para animar a los niños y niñas a volverlas a contar a otros. Con la ayuda de este recurso, se enseñan a los maestros de La Gran Aventura a ser buenos contadores de historias que hacen preguntas a los niños para mantenerlos atentos. Este método permite a las culturas analfabetas a participar y capacita a los maestros a continuar las lecciones de discipulado con sus estudiantes mucho después de que ellos hayan completado el libro de trabajo.
Los niños que completan las 12 lecciones reciben un certificado en la graduación. Este momento oficial de su logro es un recuerdo preciado para muchos.
Este folleto invita a los niños a recibir el Mejor Regalo de parte de Dios—Su Hijo Jesucristo. Se usa en más de 80 idiomas.
Este recurso capacita a las iglesias locales con información de cómo organizar una distribución, compartir el Evangelio e invitar a niños y niñas a participar en el discipulado de seguimiento.
Además de recibir un certificado, los graduados de La Gran Aventura reciben un Nuevo Testamento en su propio idioma. Esta puede ser la primera copia de las Escrituras que ellos o sus familias han tenido.
Complete with colorful illustrations, this Gospel story booklet introduces boys and girls to Christ and invites them to follow Him. Some children find this piece to be their favorite part of their shoebox gift!
Una donación de $6 dólares provee a un niño la oportunidad de participar en el programa de discipulado de Samaritan´s Purse, cubriendo el costo del libro del estudiante y una Biblia. Más información →
Únicamente al realizar tu donación en línea a través de Follow Your Box, podrás descubrir el destino de tu caja de regalos.
Agrega una etiqueta Follow Your Box a tu caja de regalos y podrás utilizar el Buscador para conocer el país al que esta llegará con el mensaje del amor de Cristo.
Tu donativo de $9 nos ayuda a cubrir los costos de procesamiento de las cajas, envío y los materiales de evangelismo. Conoce más →
Equipment can be given outright, loaned to us for a short time, or donated as a rental.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
Examples include pens, pencils and sharpeners, erasers, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
Examples include stuffed animals, dolls, small cars, balls, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, toys that light up or make noise, etc.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
Examples include metalworking, woodworking, knitting/sewing, leather, beading, children’s craft projects, etc.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
In the U.S. alone, millions of shoebox gifts are collected at thousands of drop-off sites in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. We are looking for companies interested in donating or discounting transportation on a state or national level.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
Your gift of print, radio, television, or online advertising or airtime can have a tremendous impact by inspiring more individuals to pack shoebox gifts.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®
Gifts such as tickets to events or attractions can provide exciting incentives that can be used during Operation Christmas Child special promotions or contests.
a project of Samaritan’s Purse®