A simple gift, a lasting impact.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse that collects shoebox-sized gifts — packed with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items — and delivers them to children in need around the world each Christmas, along with the message of God's love.
Since 1993, the project has delivered more than 200 million shoebox gifts to children in over 170 countries and territories, making it one of the most recognizable holiday-season giving traditions in the world.
Unlike most charitable giving, Operation Christmas Child is designed specifically around the holidays: families, churches, and schools pack shoeboxes together every fall, turning the act of giving into a shared, hands-on tradition rather than just writing a check.
For donors who'd rather give money than pack a physical box, online giving funds shoeboxes that Samaritan's Purse staff and volunteers pack and deliver on the donor's behalf.
Alongside each shoebox, children are often invited to a 12-lesson discipleship program called The Greatest Journey, extending the impact of the gift well beyond Christmas morning.
Samaritan's Purse partners with churches and local volunteers in each receiving country to distribute boxes and lead these follow-up programs, embedding the project in the communities it serves.
Your gift can help pack and deliver a shoebox full of gifts to a child who might otherwise not receive one this Christmas.