Why did I receive an e-mail indicating where my shoe box gift was sent?

The special labels available with an online donation included a barcode for tracking shoe box gifts to their destination. This was an unannounced pilot program for the 2008 season that we hope to make known to all donors in 2009.

I gave a donation online through EZ Give, but I have not received an e-mail indicating the destination country. Or, my friend received an e-mail about the destination of their shoe box gifts, but I did not.

The barcode may have been damaged in the shipping process, so we were not able to scan and track your box. The e-mail may be caught in the spam filter of your e-mail system. Or there may be another unidentifiable problem due to this being a pilot year for the program. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Is there a place on your website where I can enter my barcode to track my shoe box gifts?

No. Our system will not support that function.

I gave a donation for multiple shoe boxes through EZ Give, but only received one e-mail indicating a destination country. Where did my boxes go?

It is most likely that all of your shoe box gifts were sent to the same country, so you only received one e-mail indicating that location.

I received an e-mail indicating that my shoe box gift was sent to a particular area, but the map shows that area as gray indicating that no boxes are sent there.

Many countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia are considered sensitive countries for Operation Christmas Child. In this case, we are unable to be more specific about the destination. To view an information page about these areas, click on the links below.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Middle_East/
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/North_Africa/
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Indian_Ocean_Islands/
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Central_Asia/
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Southwest_Asia/
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Horn_of_Africa/

Why am I sent to a generic country page when I click on some countries on the map?

The U.S. does not send shoe box gifts these countries. There are 10 other countries that send shoe box gifts to children in those areas, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Switzerland.

I received an e-mail about the country destination in December. How did my shoe box get there so quickly?

Our tracking system scans boxes as they are leaving the Processing Center. This means that the container holding the shoe boxes is on its way to that receiving country.

I received an e-mail that said my box went to one country, but received a letter back from a child in a different country. What happened?

Very rarely, sea containers holding shoe box gifts must be re-routed to a different country as they are shipping overseas. It is possible that this was the case after the e-mail was sent.

Can I have a photo of the child who received my shoe box?

No. Our tracking system ends when shoe boxes leave the Processing Center and are loaded onto containers or trucks to be sent overseas.

Is there a way I can send my shoe boxes to different countries?

There is no way for us to meet specific donor requests that would designate which country the boxes are sent to.

Can I go on a distribution trip and give shoe boxes to children?

Shoe box gifts are distributed by Christians in local churches in countries around the world. At this time there are no opportunities available for the general public to participate in a distribution trip.

I packed cold weather items in my shoe box, and I was told it went to a warm weather country. What can I do?

There is no way for us to designate the destination for shoe boxes based on the contents inside the gifts. Many children in warm weather countries have never before seen items such as gloves and winter hats, and they very much enjoy receiving these unique gifts.

Can I send a second shoe box gift to the same child who received my box?

This cannot be facilitated by Operation Christmas Child. However, if the child who receives your gift is able to write you back you may, of course, remain in touch.

Can you tell me what city/town/area my shoe box gift went to?

No. Our tracking system only indicates the receiving country.

Can I select which country my shoe box gift is sent to next year?

No. There is no way for us to meet donor requests that would designate which specific country the boxes are sent to.

Can I know/sponsor/adopt the child who received my shoe box gift?

Operation Christmas Child is unable to facilitate this. However, if the child who receives your gift is able to write you back and you remain in touch, you may you’re your own arrangements.