Nov. 16 – 23: National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts
BOONE, N.C., Nov. 16, 2015 — U.S. families, churches and groups are not waiting until Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude. Instead, this week they are giving back by lovingly packing gifts of joy for children around the world living in extreme poverty or affected by war, disease and natural disaster. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.
Nov. 16 – 23, U.S. residents will pack shoebox gifts filled with a “Wow” item—like a doll or soccer ball—and other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement. Operation Christmas Child, a project of the international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan's Purse, will deliver the gifts to children in need overseas.
“We have so much to be thankful for here in America. Most of us have a roof over our heads, beds with pillows to sleep on, and food on our table. But for many children living overseas, tough living conditions and extreme poverty have left them with little hope,” said Operation Christmas Child Domestic Director Randy Riddle. “It is amazing to see the joy on children’s faces when they receive these gifts. It can be a tangible reminder that they are loved and not forgotten, despite their difficult circumstances.”
After being dropped off at one of more than 4,000 collection sites across the United States, these boxes will make the long journey overseas, traveling by any means necessary—boat, plane, train and even elephant—until they reach the hands of children in need. In 2015, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach more than 11 million children. Since 1993, the project has delivered shoebox gifts to more than 124 million children in over 150 countries and territories.
It’s not too late to get involved, and anyone can participate in this life-changing project for children around the world. Although this week is National Collection Week, shoebox gifts are collected year-round at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina.
- With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website. These gifts of hope will go to children in some of the hardest-to-reach countries. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ. to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement, and “pack” them in a shoebox.
- Participants can follow their box online to discover where in the world their gift is delivered by using the donation form found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.
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