Connect Your Troop to Operation Christmas Child

National Collection Week
Nov. 14–21, 2022

Welcome to the 2022 #AHGOCCSHINE Shoebox Challenge! The Challenge theme coincides with the American Heritage Girls 2022-2023 theme of “Shine.” We are shining a light on making this the largest AHG shoebox collection ever since there is great need to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

This year, Troops that pack 100 or more shoebox gifts will be entered in a drawing to win a memorable trip for a girl member and adult member/guardian. They will accompany AHG Founder and Executive Director Patti Garibay on a visit to Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child in North Carolina. The summer 2023 trip will include tours of a shoebox processing center, the Billy Graham Library, and other exciting events. The representatives will also bring back a special Operation Christmas Child gift for the other members of their Troop.

Troops must enter their shoebox counts using the collection form by Nov. 30, 2022 to contribute to the AHG national shoebox goal and qualify for the drawing. The winning Troop will be announced in January 2023, and they will determine how representatives will be chosen to attend.

“The altruistic act of kindness in building and sending a shoebox molds the hearts of our future servant leaders while building empathy for their international sisters and brothers. I can’t think of a better way for kids to share the love of Christ while praying for the impact of their gift from generation to generation.”
—Patti Garibay
American Heritage Girls Founder and Executive Director

Get Your Troop Involved

Order Materials

Visit our Resources and Ideas Hub
Receive FREE materials
Order preprinted shoeboxes to fill with gifts
Download videos to show to your Troop

Pack and Assemble

Collect shoeboxes or plastic containers and fill them with gender- and age-appropriate items. If you wrap your shoebox, be sure to wrap the lid separately from the rest of the box. Set a goal for your Troop and start collecting today!
Learn how to pack a shoebox.
Host a packing party. Use our step-by-step guide to customize your packing party experience and to order free materials.

Cover Ministry Costs

Make a $10 donation for each shoebox you prepare to help cover shipping and program expenses.
If you give online through Follow Your Box, you can discover the destination of your shoebox gift.

Drop Off

Place a rubber band around each shoebox and bring them to one of over 4,000 drop-off locations open during National Collection Week, the third week in November.
Make sure to indicate that you’re with American Heritage Girls when you fill out the drop-off log. We want to celebrate this partnership with you and AHG!

Build Shoeboxes Online

Invite your Troop to virtually pack shoeboxes at Build a Shoebox Online. In just a few clicks, select items you’d like to include in your gift and include a personal note and photo. We’ll pack and ship your shoebox for you for just $25.
Create your own custom webpage for your Troop to track their progress towards a shoebox goal! At the above website, click “Create a Goal Page” to get started.

Host a Guest Speaker

Contact your Operation Christmas Child regional office to be put in contact with potential speakers, including local volunteers, youth who helped deliver shoebox gifts, and even shoebox recipients.

Disciple Children Through The Greatest Journey

After children receive shoebox gifts, many are invited to participate in our 12-lesson follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey. During these Bible lessons, a trained teacher/mentor instructs them how to follow Christ and share Him with others.

Disciple a Child ⇢

Share Posts with Operation Christmas Child

Post photos of your Troop participating in Operation Christmas Child to our social media using the hashtag #AHGOCCSHINE.

Recognize Participation

Use the patches below to recognize girls for their participation in Operation Christmas Child. Give the logo patch the first year they participate and commemorative patches for each subsequent year.