A simple drive through the countryside can become something special. Yusif*, a volunteer leader in Central Asia with Operation Christmas Child, was traveling with several team members to a ministry meeting when he spotted two shepherd boys tending their flock near the highway. Remembering that he had some gift-filled shoeboxes as well as copies of…
Operation Christmas Child
Volunteers Know ‘Each Shoebox Is a Missionary’
When Carol and Pat Nelson volunteer with Operation Christmas Child, they know first-hand how much each gift can mean. Twelve years ago, the Nelsons packed their first shoebox for Operation Christmas Child and sent it off with a letter and a picture. Seven months later, they received a thank-you letter written in French from a…
Operation Christmas Child
30 Years of OCC
Praising God for 30 Years of Operation Christmas Child Since 1993, God has used Samaritan’s Purse to deliver over 200 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in need and disciple 50 million of these boys and girls. When Franklin Graham agreed to fill shoeboxes with toys and other fun items for children in war-torn…
Operation Christmas Child
Mission and History
Mission & History Mission The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to provide God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Franklin Graham leads a team to deliver Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to boys and girls…
Operation Christmas Child
Press Release Operation Christmas Child January 01-25-23
Samaritan's Purse Celebrates Nearly 10.6 Million Shoebox Gifts Collected for Children in Need BOONE, N.C., Jan. 25, 2023—Millions of shoebox packers shared the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas…
Operation Christmas Child
Press Release: Samaritan’s Purse Celebrates 12.2 Million Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts
Samaritan’s Purse Celebrates 12.2 Million Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts BOONE, N.C.—Samaritan’s Purse is celebrating a successful season after collecting 12.2 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts in 2025, sharing the love of Jesus with children in need around the world. The milestone reflects the generosity of millions of shoebox packers helping to fill shoebox…
Operation Christmas Child
World War II Veteran Sews Hundreds of Quilts for Children’s Shoebox Gifts
Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Theron Jennings, 98, lives alone in a Savoy, Illinois, apartment where he sews quilts for children around the world. Since 2014, he has handmade more than 400 of these blankets, completing 160 in just the last year. Each one is lovingly packed into a shoebox gift with other toys and…
Our Ministry
Children’s Heart Project Medical Volunteer
Apply to Be a Medical Volunteer Are you a medical professional with a heart to help children in need as part of your Christian service to the Lord? We work with medical volunteers to screen, monitor, and transport children for heart procedures to a partnering pediatric hospital. Children's Heart Project offers two ways to volunteer;…
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
Clean Water Initiatives Help Keep Children Healthy
When Than was in elementary school she had to take turns with the other children carrying water from a well about 20 minutes away. The well was the only clean water source for the school, so every week a different team of students made several trips to bring back drinking water for their classmates. Now,…
Operation Christmas Child
An Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gave Hope to an Orphan in Honduras
Yuri Lopez grew up in 14 different orphanages in Honduras, after being separated from her family when she was 2 years old. Her life seemed hopeless. But when she was 6, Yuri received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift and “experienced hope for the very first time,” she said. “Everything in my shoebox was special,”…
