“And the light shines in the darkness…”

Special Access Shoebox Resources for Project Leaders
Click the checkboxes to agree and reveal resources.
As a preapproved Project Leader, I agree to only share these resources with those involved in packing Special Access shoebox gifts.
I will only distribute copies of these materials to those who are packing Special Access shoebox gifts.
I will not disseminate the Special Access shoebox gift information online, via social media, or on other public forums.
Your church or group can play an extra special role in bringing great joy to children in need through Operation Christmas Child! By packing Special Access shoebox gifts, you will send tangible expressions of God’s love into the world’s hard-to-reach places.
As a preapproved Project Leader for packing Special Access shoeboxes, it’s important to communicate to others that these particular shoebox gifts need to be carefully prepared, abiding by strict customs regulations on what items can enter the countries. Hard-to-reach areas are difficult to access for a reason—whether it be geographic, cultural, or religious obstacles. It’s important to pack the gifts with deliberation to safeguard partners who will deliver the gifts, as well as the boys and girls who will receive them. These gifts then become powerful tools for local believers to share God’s love during delivery.
Preparing a Special Access Shoebox
Non-Religious Packaging and Content: All Special Access shoeboxes need to be packed in an official Special Access box that you can order through your Operation Christmas Child regional office. Once your order is approved, these Special Access shoeboxes will be delivered directly to your church’s volunteer coordinator.
There should be no religious messages or symbols in a Special Access shoebox—including no Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child references or logos in shoebox contents. Although you can’t pack religious content, please pray that God will touch many hearts as each box opens doors for evangelism, discipleship, and the multiplication of believers and churches.
Special Access Labels Only: Only use Special Access boy/girl shoebox labels; not regular shoebox labels or Follow Your Box labels, which contain Operation Christmas Child logos. Follow Your Box tracking does not apply to Special Access shoeboxes.
$9 Per Shoebox Suggested Donation: A $9 per box donation is critical for shipping and other project costs, which can be enclosed in an envelope within the shoebox. However, Follow Your Box is not offered with the Special Access shoebox donation.
Transportation: When your church volunteer coordinator places an order for Special Access shoeboxes, they will receive information about how to return the packed boxes to Operation Christmas Child for delivery. Please Note: These specially-packed boxes cannot be shipped together with traditional shoeboxes.
Suggested Packing List
- School supplies: Pencils, sharpeners, pens, notebooks, crayons, chalk, erasers
- Toys: Soccer ball with pump, cars, dolls, jump rope, jacks, plush animals, balls
- Hygiene items: Washcloth, toothbrush, shoes/sandals, socks, underwear, hair clips
- Accessories: Calculators, watches, bags, costume jewelry, purses
- Greeting cards/letters/pictures: No religious messages or logos, such as Operation Christmas Child
Inappropriate Items
- Used or damaged items
- Toothpaste
- War-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures
- Chocolates, candy, or food
- Liquids or lotions
- Medications or vitamins
- Breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers
- Aerosol cans
- Playing cards (poker/gambling cards)
- Country flags
- Coloring books with Christian themes
- Pigs (figures/stuffed animals, or books/coloring books with pigs)
- Barbie™ dolls or dolls with removable clothing
- Religious symbols and literature
- Scary characters/figurines/monsters
- Personal letters with religious content
- Camouflage clothing
- Soap (this applies to Special Access shoeboxes because of strict customs regulations)
Resources for Packing Special Access Shoebox Gifts
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Special Access Brochures Order brochures for Special Access shoebox gift participants. The brochure includes a set of labels and an envelope for the $9 per box suggested donation to cover shipping and other program costs.
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$9 Per Shoebox Suggested Donation
A donation of $9 per Special Access shoebox gift is critical to cover collection, processing, shipping, and other program costs.
Suggested Gift: $9 per shoebox
SUPPORTOperation Christmas Child Through Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with millions of boys and girls in more than 100 countries each year. Many of these children have never before received a present or heard the true meaning of Christmas—until they open a gift-filled shoebox from a person like you. Some people are not able to give the $9 per shoebox we request for shipping and related costs. By adopting a shoebox, you can partner with them to deliver the Gospel and help "bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47, ESV).
Operation Christmas Child 013477Adopt a Shoebox: $9 | Adopt a Carton of 15 Boxes: $135$
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Special Access Shoebox Labels
8.5″ x 11″
Color labels to download and print. Be sure to pack your gift in an official Special Access box and use a Special Access label.
⇣Download PDF (795kb)
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Special Access Shoebox Labels
11″ x 8.5″
Multiple black and white labels to download and print. Be sure to pack your gift in an official Special Access box and use a Special Access label.
⇣Download PDF (453kb)
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Special Access Shoebox Gift Speaking Points
8.5″ x 11″
Ideas for how to share about Special Access shoebox gifts at your church.
⇣Download PDF (1.4mb)
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Special Access Shoebox Gift Handout
8.5″ x 11″
A one-page overview of Special Access shoebox gifts and what is appropriate to pack in them.
⇣Download PDF (467kb)
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Hard-to-Reach Stories
8.5″ x 11″
A collection of stories from hard-to-reach areas to help you cast vision for the “why” of packing Special Access shoeboxes.
⇣Download PDF (1.4mb)
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Dania’s Story
Run Time: 2:54
A video about Dania who received her shoebox in a hard-to-reach area and saw it as specific answer to prayer for her family.
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Dania’s Story: The Power of Prayer
Run Time: 3:50
God used a simple Operation Christmas Child shoebox to show His love to Dania, a girl living in severe poverty in the Middle East, and answer her family’s prayer for a much-needed item.
Have questions or suggestions? Email occinfo@samaritan.org