Doris Row started packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes on her ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, in 1995 after her 13-year-old son died at Christmastime the year before. She was determined not to live in grief, but to do something good to help overcome it. She chose to begin packing shoebox gifts for children in need around…
Operation Christmas Child
Building Toy Cars to Help Build God’s Kingdom
Ken Postema lives in Western Michigan, about 15 miles east of Grand Rapids, on 10 wooded acres that he purchased 51 years ago when he was a senior in high school. Tall white pines, maples, tulip poplars, and hybrid poplars dot the lush, rolling landscape surrounding Ken’s beautifully handcrafted house, which he built himself. “Some…
Operation Christmas Child
Delivering Grace
“We want to help make disciples. We want kids to know that they are loved by the creator of the universe. We want kids to know that Jesus died for their sins and they did nothing to deserve it. It’s unconditional.” Kimberly Hahn, director of operations at Orange Lutheran High School in California, overflows when…
Operation Christmas Child
Resources & Ideas Hub
Resources & Ideas Hub Explore the links below for ideas of how you or your group can pack shoeboxes and touch the lives of children and families around the world, bringing hope through the Good News of Jesus Christ in the form of a simple gift. Shipped To You Free Materials A place to order…
Our Ministry
Newsletter October 2025
Franklin Graham Update | October Franklin Graham Update | October As Peace Dawns in Gaza, More Help Is on the Way Dear Friend, As I write this, the world is celebrating the release of the last Israeli hostages as part of a ceasefire deal announced by President Trump between Hamas and Israel. The historic peace plan is also great news for nearly 2…
Operation Christmas Child
Why $10?
Why $10? A donation of $10 per shoebox gift is critical for Operation Christmas Child. It provides for: Collection After shoebox gifts are dropped off at nearly 5,000 locations around the United States each year in November, trucks transport the precious cargo to eight different processing centers. Processing Eight processing center warehouses around the country…
Operation Christmas Child
God Is Using a Child to Plant Seeds for the Gospel
Abigail Porter’s journey with Operation Christmas Child started when she saw a Samaritan’s Purse video of boys and girls receiving shoebox gifts and learning about Jesus Christ. Although she was only 4 at the time, God moved in her heart, and she knew she wanted to start packing shoeboxes. Some people thought this would be…
Operation Christmas Child
Tennessee Teen Packs with a Purpose
Tucked in along the Tennessee River between Nashville and Memphis sits the quaint town of Clifton, Tennessee. This town of just over 2,000 people is home for Jane Marie Franks—a 16-year-old high school junior with big goals. In the last two years, she’s rallied her community to pack over 1,000 Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts…
Operation Christmas Child
God Is Using a Small Texas Church to Bless Many Thousands of Children
Update (Nov. 4, 2021): Since this article was originally published, Grace Baptist Church of Wild Peach, Texas, has continued to exceed its shoebox-packing goals. In 2020, despite the global outbreak of COVID-19, the church packed 12,617 shoeboxes—117 over their goal. They also saw God’s provision regarding their $9 donation per shoebox gift that year. “We…
Operation Christmas Child
Five Creative Ways to Pack Shoeboxes During COVID-19
A global pandemic isn’t stopping Operation Christmas Child from delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to boys and girls in the far corners of the world. Children need hope now more than ever in such uncertain times, and these tangible expressions of God’s love can be a great encouragement. Most important, children need to hear the Good News…
