During National Collection Week two years ago, Alathia Purtell formed what even she thought was an impossible dream—to produce 2,000 crocheted purses for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts. Alathia, then 12, was visiting her maternal grandparents in Canton, Texas, when she went with her grandmother Sue to her church’s shoebox drop-off location. There, Alathia saw…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Volunteers Begin Helping California Homeowners After Devastating Fire
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER IN CALIFORNIA There wasn’t much time to flee Paradise as the Camp Fire roared across Butte County, California. Residents reported harrowing escapes with their shoes heating up under them as they abandoned cars stuck on melting tires. Before it was fully contained, the Camp Fire burned more than 14,000 homes and…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Homeowner Receives Christ as Volunteers Clean Up After Flooding
Samaritan’s Purse volunteer teams are at work in La Plata and Archuleta counties in Colorado after the remnants of two tropical systems brought torrential rainfall on Oct. 11. As levees broke upstream, water rushed down the mountains, carving channels through streets and neighborhoods. Hundreds of homes were affected. Dianne Paxton was forced to evacuate as…
Operation Christmas Child
God Is Transforming Families in Botswana through The Greatest Journey
In the desert village of Serinane, hours outside Botswana’s capital Gaborone, jobs are hard to come by. The little money that finds its way to the village is often spent on alcohol; many families are hurting as a result. Life is difficult for everyone here. Change will only come person by person, with God’s transforming…
Operation Christmas Child
Volunteer Perseveres in Leadership Despite Challenges
After spending 24 years as a special agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kathy Aiken found a different calling. Today, Kathy serves as an area coordinator for the Operation Christmas Child East Alabama Area Team. Based out of Talladega County, Kathy leads a team of volunteers that promote shoebox packing year-round. “I feel like…
Operation Christmas Child Espanol
Volunteer at a Drop-off Location (es)
Sirve como Voluntario en un Drop-off Location Semana Nacional de Recolección En cerca de 5,000 lugares en toda la nación, hay voluntarios que dan la bienvenida y oran con las personas que entregan cajas para Operation Christmas Child. Otros voluntarios llenan contenedores y cargan camiones con las millones de cajas que, en oración, anticipamos recibir.…
50 Years of Ministry
Discipling Boys and Girls through The Greatest Journey
After 16 years of collecting and delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, Samaritan’s Purse launched its own follow-up discipleship program for the boys and girls who receive them. In 2009, this 12-lesson course called The Greatest Journey started at Good Shepherd Church in Pifo, Ecuador, located just outside of Quito, and today has grown to…
Our Ministry
Social Media Links
Christmas Catalog 2025 Browse All Gifts of Hope Rushing Relief to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa Give Now Join Our Rebuild Teams! Learn more about these exciting ministry opportunities. Learn More Volunteer Seasonal Employment Serve with Samaritan's Purse as an Operation Christmas Child seasonal employee and you will work with volunteers to help bring Jesus' love to…
Crisis & Disaster Response
God Answers Prayers in Storm-Wrecked Jamaica
Derick emerged from cover to survey the storm he had just survived. Hurricane Melissa had churned for hours over Black River, Jamaica, and from what he could see, his community was in ruins. The once-lush tropical forests had been stripped of all color, while aluminum roofs and household possessions were strewn across the streets. Aluminum…
Operation Christmas Child
Christian Radio Trip Giveaway Terms and Conditions
Official Rules for Operation Christmas Child Momentum Vision Trip Giveaway NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE ODDS OF WINNING. By participating in this sweepstakes/giveaway (the “Giveaway”), you (“Entrant”) accept and agree to the following Terms and Conditions: Giveaway Period: The Giveaway runs from…
