Connect Your Troop to Operation Christmas Child
National Collection Week
Nov. 18–25, 2024
Some of the best outdoor adventures require an investment. The more you give of yourself, the greater the reward. Jesus defined greatness in a related way: “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11 NKJV). The Trail Life calls for servant leadership. The reward is in blessing others.
Operation Christmas Child offers the opportunity to serve children around the world through a simple gift. Your Trail Life USA Troop can fill shoeboxes with toys, schools supplies, and hygiene items for boys and girls in need, giving them a tangible expression of God’s love. Many of these children also participate in our follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, where they learn to follow Christ and share Him with others.
Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered more than 209 million shoeboxes in over 170 countries and territories. Your Trail Life USA Troop can be a direct part of blessing children through the good news and great joy of gift-filled shoeboxes.
From your Troop to our staff, we are a part of the same team, impacting the worldwide church one child at a time.
Shoebox Challenge
Trail Life USA Troops are invited to participate in the Shoebox Challenge!
By packing shoebox gifts, Troops can earn complimentary tickets to Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Adventure Aquarium, Callaway Gardens, Kentucky Kingdom, Museum of the Bible, Newport Aquarium, and Wild Adventures. The more boxes you pack, the more tickets you can earn!
Get Your Troop Involved
Order Materials
- Visit our Resources and Ideas Hub
- Receive FREE materials
- Order preprinted shoeboxes to fill with gifts
- Download videos to show to your Troop
Pack and Assemble
- Collect shoeboxes or plastic containers and fill them with gender- and age-appropriate items. If you wrap your shoebox, be sure to wrap the lid separately from the rest of the box. Set a goal for your Troop and start collecting today!
- Learn how to pack a shoebox.
- Host a packing party. Use our step-by-step guide to customize your packing party experience and to order free materials.
Cover Ministry Costs
- Make a $10 donation for each shoebox you prepare to help cover shipping and program expenses.
- If you give online through Follow Your Box, you can discover the destination of your shoebox gift.
Drop Off
- Place a rubber band around each shoebox and bring them to one of more than 4,500 drop-off locations open during National Collection Week, the third week in November.
- Make sure to indicate that you’re with Trail Life USA when you fill out the drop-off log. We want to celebrate this partnership with Trail Life USA!
Host a Guest Speaker
- Contact your Operation Christmas Child regional office to be put in contact with potential speakers, including local volunteers, youth who helped deliver shoebox gifts, and even shoebox recipients.
Disciple Children Through The Greatest Journey
- After children receive shoebox gifts, many are invited to participate in our 12-lesson follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey. During these Bible lessons, a trained teacher/mentor instructs them how to follow Christ and share Him with others.
Disciple a Child ⇢
Share Posts with Operation Christmas Child
- Post photos of your Troop participating in Operation Christmas Child to our social media using the hashtag #ipackedashoebox.
Helpful Links
Have questions or suggestions? Email occinfo@samaritan.org
