Bob McCarty Writes

Click to view program web site.

Not your ordinary fundraiser, Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love.

Along with hundreds of others nationwide, my church participates in Operation Christmas Child every year.  Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas — Jesus Christ.

National Collection Week runs Nov. 17-24. You can participate by following the simple instructions below and then locating a drop-off location near you:

HOW TO PACK A SHOE BOX

1. SHOE BOX — Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

Click to download instructions & labels.

2. BOY OR GIRL? — Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS — Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child.  Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION — Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF — Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the collection center nearest you during our collection week Nov. 17 – 24.  For locations and hours of collection visit our drop-off locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.

You can also send your shoe box gift(s) to:

Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

Thanks in advance for anything you can do to support this worthwhile cause of Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse® International Relief.