Christmas time a time for giving

Packing shoebox gifts with Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child provides an opportunity for children and young people in the UK to give gifts to children around the world who may have never received a Christmas present before.

The Samaritan’s Purse project sends shoeboxes filled with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items to share God’s love with children in need and remind them that they are special and not forgotten. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 198 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories across the globe.

During the early days of the Ukraine crisis, an Operation Christmas Child outreach event for refugees touched the lives of many families. “It was the most emotional event,” shared one of our local partners, “we told each child how much God loves and cares for them. When they opened the gifts, it was like the gift boxes were packed especially for them. Many families came without anything, they just managed to grab their children and run. In the gifts there were so many things they needed.”

From war-torn countries to remote islands and villages in hard-to-reach locations, Operation Christmas Child delivers love, hope and joy to around 9 million children in need each year.

Packing a shoebox is simple and fun, and offers a wide range of learning opportunities. From budgeting and shopping for the items to learning about the different countries receiving the shoebox gifts, it’s a great activity to complete as a family. Some families like to have one special shopping trip to purchase the items, while others enjoy packing throughout the year, selecting a different item for their shoebox each month. If your family enjoys crafting projects like woodwork, sewing or crochet, there are also lots of great items you can make throughout the year to pack inside your shoebox gift. Card making, drawing and letter writing are also great ways to personalise your shoebox gift.

If you are tight for time, there is also the opportunity to build a shoebox online. You can choose to pack for a boy or a girl in a specific age group and select from a range of gifts. You can even personalise your shoebox gift by including a note and a photo. It takes just five to ten minutes to complete, and will give hours of joy to the precious child receiving it.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

This year: You can build shoebox gifts online up until Christmas Eve, and Samaritan’s Purse will pack and send them for you. Visit shoeboxonline.org.uk to learn more. Next year: Pack shoebox gifts in 2023 and take them to a drop-off location near you during National Collection Week (November 13–20, 2023).

www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/occ