Connect Your Troop to Operation Christmas Child
National Collection Week
November 12–19, 2018
2018 Goal: Pack and collect 20,000 shoeboxes and enable 2,500 children to take The Greatest Journey
The Greatest Journey is a 12-lesson follow-up Bible study for Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipients. The cost of materials is $6 per child. Collecting $15,000 will enable 2,500 children to learn more about Jesus Christ through this evangelism and discipleship program!
Operation Christmas Child offers your American Heritage Girls Troop the opportunity to help children in need around the world by packing shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and other simple gifts that bring hope and joy in Jesus’ Name.
Working in partnership with local churches, children who receive shoebox gifts hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of them participate in our follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, where they learn how to follow Christ and share their faith with others.
Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered more than 157 million shoeboxes in over 100 countries. Your American Heritage Girls Troop can be a direct part of bringing children good news and great joy.
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 $9 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 nearly 5,000 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!
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 #ipackedashoebox.
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.
Helpful Links
Have questions or suggestions? Email occinfo@samaritan.org
