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