Connect Your Troop to Operation Christmas Child
National Collection Week
November 13–20
Goal: 22,000 shoeboxes in 2017
Help reach American Heritage Girls’ goal to pack and collect at least 22,000 shoeboxes in 2017!
Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch,” (Luke 5:4). “LAUNCH” is the 2017 Program Year theme for Troops, because like the Apostle Peter, American Heritage Girls want to leave the shoreline of familiarity and delve into the deep of obedience to Christ.
In that obedience, when an American Heritage Girl promises in her oath to “love God,” she commits to love the things He loves. Scripture tells us of His great love for children: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).
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 to follow Christ and share their faith with others.
Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered more than 146 million shoeboxes in over 100 countries. Your American Heritage Girls Troop can be a direct part of bringing children good news and great joy.
New in 2017
American Heritage Girls Troops are invited to participate in the Shoebox Challenge!
By packing shoebox gifts, Troops can earn complimentary tickets to Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Stone Mountain Park, Wild Adventures, Elitch Gardens, Newport Aquarium, or Adventure Aquarium. The more boxes you pack, the more tickets you can earn!
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.
Suggested Donation: $1.00 per Patch
Quantity:
Enter Your Donation: $
Helpful Links
Have questions or suggestions? Email occinfo@samaritan.org
