May 24, 2022Providential Meeting Changes Lives in Central Asia
God uses a shoebox gift to draw a boy to Christ just days before his death.
- February 17, 2022
‘The Lord Loves Even His Enemies’
In the face of persecution, believers in Central Asia choose to distribute gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes in their community.
February 7, 2022Sharing the Gospel Globally
In 2021, Samaritan’s Purse continued to declare God’s glory in more than 100 countries and territories through Operation Christmas Child—including among many unreached people groups at the very ends of the earth.
- January 31, 2022
Celebrate with Operation Christmas Child!
View 2021 stats, infographic, PowerPoint slides, and social graphics to share with your church or group.
- January 26, 2022
Serving the Lord with Love, Thanks to Operation Christmas Child
Canadian-packed shoebox inspires, encourages Costa Rica recipient.
- January 25, 2022
Sharing God’s Love Through Shoebox Gifts in Guinea
Your gifts are bringing Good News and great joy to the children of Guinea.
- January 21, 2022
Bringing the Good News to an Island Off Cote d’Ivoire
God uses Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to open a door and then a church starts in a difficult location.
- December 14, 2021
Fueled by Faith
National teams find creative ways to transport shoebox gifts far and wide in the Name of Jesus.
- December 9, 2021
Outsiders Welcomed In
An unreached Baka village in Gabon receives shoebox gifts and the Gospel with joy!
- December 2, 2021
Shoebox Gifts Open Doors Among the Unreached in Asia
We give thanks for how the one true living God is working through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to draw children and their families to Himself!
- November 30, 2021
You Can Still Pack Shoeboxes Online!
Pack a gift-filled shoebox and share God’s love with a hurting child overseas.
- November 29, 2021
Stories of Shoebox Miracles
Let God’s love warm your heart as you listen to Sean Campbell recount what it was like to deliver the first-ever shoebox gifts from Canada.
- November 19, 2021
From Oklahoma with Love
An Oklahoma woman holds an annual shoebox packing party on her ranch to prepare hundreds of Operation Christmas Child gifts for children around the world.
- November 17, 2021
Shoebox Donation
By giving a minimum $10 donation per shoebox, you help cover the costs of shipping and other project-related costs.
- November 17, 2021
Check Out Exciting Shoebox Stories!
Firsthand accounts of how God changed lives through simple gifts.
- November 15, 2021
An Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gave Hope to an Orphan in Honduras
Yuri Lopez received a shoebox gift when she was 6 years old and it changed her life.
- November 10, 2021
Building Toy Cars to Help Build God’s Kingdom
A Michigan man makes wooden cars to put in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes that will help reach the world’s children for Jesus.
- November 6, 2021
Watch "Lola's Lion"
Lola's Lion is an uplifting story about Lola, a lonely little girl living in an orphanage, who receives an adventurous stuffed lion in her Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
- November 2, 2021
A Young Girl in Ecuador Shares Her Amazing Testimony
God is working through Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey discipleship course to bring children to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
- October 29, 2021
The Happy Grandmas Send God’s Love
Two retired women in Miami, Florida, are busy making stuffed animals for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts because they want children worldwide to know that God loves them.
- October 25, 2021
Nancy and a Photograph
“Through that picture in my shoebox gift, God’s love became tangible and real to me.”
- October 20, 2021
Karabo and a Comb
It was the beginning of me reopening my heart … and entrusting it to Christ.
- October 20, 2021
Evangeline and the School Supplies
“Growing up in a dump site you smell smoke and other unpleasant things, but the shoebox gifts smelled so good.”
- October 20, 2021
5 Creative Ideas for Shoebox Packing
Whether this is your first time filling a shoebox or you’ve been at it for years, use the list below to jump-start your packing!
- October 20, 2021
“It’s Making a Difference in Heaven”
Shoebox-packing mother loves the impact of Operation Christmas Child.
- October 19, 2021
Opening Eyes and Ears in Ecuador
God uses an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift to answer the prayer of a young girl and draw her to faith in Christ.
- October 7, 2021
Packing a Shoebox Will ‘Make Your Heart Feel Good’
A 94-year-old woman in Florida packs Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for children in need as a tangible expression of God’s love. She encourages others to get involved too!
- September 6, 2021
Gergana and a Juggling Set
It holds a special place in my heart and reminds me of God’s love.
- September 3, 2021
Operation Christmas Child Media Kit 2021
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate circumstances around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes and the message of God’s unconditional love.
- August 16, 2021
Volunteer Year-Round with Operation Christmas Child
God has uniquely gifted you to serve! Partner with us to reach children for Christ.
- July 30, 2021
Children in the Pacific Take The Greatest Journey of Their Lives
On the remote island of Vanua Levu, God used local Christians and our discipleship course for shoebox recipients to reach underprivileged children with the Gospel.
- July 20, 2021
Encouraging Students to Serve Children Around the World
Year-round volunteer in Ohio mobilizes students to get involved with Operation Christmas Child.
- July 9, 2021
Order Shoeboxes and Resources Today
It's that time again—order free materials to jumpstart your project as we head toward Operation Christmas Child season.
April 24, 2021Yves and a scarf
A stranger loves me? How can that be, when neighbors in Rwanda had tried to kill us?
- April 1, 2021
How Shoebox Gifts Travel the World
From donkeys, elephants, and camels to motorcycles, trucks, and canoes, we'll do whatever it takes to transport Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to the ends of the earth.
- April 1, 2021
Passionate volunteer answers a need in Nova Scotia
Year-round volunteer Bob Ring shares why he serves with Operation Christmas Child.
- April 1, 2021
Operation Christmas Child volunteer follows God’s leading to find a shoebox drop-off location
Rebecca Moses uses her God-given gifts, and passion for the Gospel, to reach children around the world with the Good News without leaving home.
- March 30, 2021
Answering a need and sharing the Good News through Operation Christmas Child
Year-round Operation Christmas Child volunteer uses her passion to reach children with the Good News of the Gospel.
- February 24, 2021
Shoebox Gifts Bridge the Divide
God used prayer and Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to help reconcile a believer to his estranged family.
- February 9, 2021
Operation Christmas Child: Special Report 2020
God was faithful and prepared the way for Samaritan's Purse to take shoebox gifts and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth, even in a pandemic year.
- January 20, 2021
Island with No Power, No Airport Receives Shoebox Gifts
Children on a remote island in the Pacific receive shoebox gifts and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- January 12, 2021
The Good News Blossoms in West Africa
A ministry partner in The Gambia began The Greatest Journey discipleship course with only his son and it grew to a class of 21 as participants shared Jesus with their family and friends!
- December 24, 2020
Changed Lives
In Botswana God is using Operation Christmas Child to transform lives, families, and communities through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- December 9, 2020
Shine a Light in the Darkness
Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts can bring light to children living in hard-to-reach places.
- December 7, 2020
Shoebox Gifts Protected in the Storms
When Samaritan’s Purse helped a 92-year-old Louisiana resident clean up her yard after Hurricanes Laura and Delta, our team was surprised by the additional blessings they discovered.
- December 1, 2020
Passing the Shoebox Baton: Meet a National Team Coordinator
Get to know one national leader in Central Asia who has been serving with Operation Christmas Child for 20 years.
- November 18, 2020
Operation Christmas Child Is Bringing the Hope of the Gospel to 1,000 Pacific Islands
Palau native Rengesuul Yobech is helping accomplish Franklin Graham’s bold vision to reach every child in the Pacific with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- November 13, 2020
Excited for Shoeboxes in South America!
Check out this encouraging video from Operation Christmas Child team members in South America as they celebrate what God is doing there.
- November 10, 2020
She’s Got a Passion for Sharing Christ Through Shoeboxes
A Pennsylvania woman overcomes physical challenges and encourages everyone—especially young people—to pack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for boys and girls in need around the world.
- October 26, 2020
A Boy Called Marvellous
His parents gave him a name that praises the Lord. God’s love expressed through an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift taught him more about the One who is faithful.
- October 22, 2020
Why I Pack Shoeboxes: One-Word Witnesses
Friends of Operation Christmas Child unpack the single word that, for each of them, describes why they pack gift-filled shoeboxes.
- September 25, 2020
National Project Leader Workshop
Watch the Project Leader Workshop video and be equipped with resources and critical updates for this shoebox season.
- September 23, 2020
Christian Leaders in Guam Are Excited About Operation Christmas Child
Gift-filled shoeboxes were handed out to children on Guam in early 2020 as part of Franklin Graham’s bold vision to reach every child on 1,000 Pacific islands with the Gospel over the next few years.
- September 16, 2020
A Shoebox Gift Filled A Hole in His Heart
Operation Christmas Child helps combat the emptiness an orphan felt.
- September 3, 2020
Bold Vision for the Pacific
Operation Christmas Child plans to reach every child on 1,000 islands over the next few years.
- August 27, 2020
Life-giving Lessons in Botswana
Through The Greatest Journey discipleship program, children and families in Botswana are experiencing the power of the Gospel.
- August 11, 2020
Six Creative Ways to Pack Shoeboxes During COVID-19
Learn what churches and individuals are doing amid the coronavirus crisis to facilitate shoebox packing and ultimately bless children in need around the world.
- July 16, 2020
Operation Christmas Child Brings Gift-Filled Shoeboxes to Palau
Shoeboxes were distributed as part of a five-year initiative to reach every child on 1,000 Pacific islands with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- June 5, 2020
Shoebox Gifts Go Even Where There Is No Road
Two new churches start among an unreached people group in Liberia as a result of Operation Christmas Child outreach events.
February 26, 2020Check Out Shoebox Stories from Around the World
Read and see amazing stories of God's work through Operation Christmas Child.
- February 22, 2020
Franklin Graham hands out shoeboxes on Saipan and Guam
He distributed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children at a local school before preaching the Gospel to an overflowing crowd as part of the Marianas Festival of Hope.
- February 14, 2020
Your Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes give joy to children in desperate need of hope
God is using you to transform lives, families, and communities through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- February 7, 2020
Join us in celebrating 10,569,405 shoebox gifts packed in 2019!
Download resources to share with your church or group, including infographics, PowerPoint slides, bulletin inserts, and more.
- February 5, 2020
Daniella's Dream
God uses a pair of shoes in a shoebox to give hope to a little girl.
- January 24, 2020
Shoebox gifts bring Good News and Great Joy to The Gambia
Bringing great joy and the Good News of Jesus to the children of The Gambia through shoebox gifts.
- January 22, 2020
Shoebox gifts bring the gospel to Nicaraguan children
Bringing great joy and the Good News of Jesus to the children of Nicaragua through shoebox gifts.
- January 17, 2020
Hundreds of children in the Bahamas receive shoebox gifts at Christmastime
Operation Christmas Child shares the love and hope of Jesus Christ with children in the hurricane-battered Bahamas.
- December 4, 2019
Tania and the school supplies
My sister and I didn’t usually receive gifts, even at birthdays or Christmas. Through a shoebox, I learned that there are people who love Jesus enough to give special gifts to children they haven’t even met.
- November 25, 2019
Passionate supporter packs 70 shoeboxes in mother’s honor
“I’d find stuff at their house and ask ‘Mom, why do you have all these crayons?’ And she’d say ‘Oh, they’re for shoeboxes’”
- November 25, 2019
Pack Shoeboxes Online
Pack gift-filled shoeboxes and share God’s love with a hurting child overseas, without even leaving your home.
- November 14, 2019
Shoeboxes launch outreach to children in western Mexico
A pastor in Mazatlan is seeing God use Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey to open doors for Gospel ministry.
- October 29, 2019
Lighting his way to Jesus
Just when a boy from the slums was ready to give up hope, he received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift that shined the light of the Gospel into his life.
- October 25, 2019
Edward Graham joins celebration for new church in the mountains of Mexico
A church was started among an unreached people group through the ministry of a local pastor in partnership with Operation Christmas Child.
- October 24, 2019
It started with a shoebox gift: Children share Christ with their friends in Botswana
Young people are becoming powerful Gospel witnesses in their rural communities.
- October 15, 2019
The love behind a shoebox gift surprised a girl in Cambodia
Boun Thorne got a glimpse of God’s love when she received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift as a child.
- October 7, 2019
God uses a shoebox gift to transform a family in the Philippines
Bryce Pablo and his family are thankful for an Operation Christmas Child shoebox that began their journey to Christ.
- October 1, 2019
Children in Botswana learn about God's love through shoebox gifts
Anitah, a young girl living in the desert region of Botswana, hears the Gospel during an Operation Christmas Child outreach event.
- September 9, 2019
Now is the time to start thinking Operation Christmas Child!
Learn more about Operation Christmas Child—the worldwide shoebox gift ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Pack shoeboxes today!
- August 23, 2019
Graham family participates in Operation Christmas Child Pacific push
Franklin and Jane Graham and their son Edward were recently on Tarawa to give out gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need.
- July 18, 2019
Shoeboxes become an answer to children’s prayers in South Africa
Three months before receiving her shoebox gift, Vanessa began attending church and committed her life to Christ. She longed for a copy of the Bible and began praying for one. When she opened her shoebox, guess what she found inside?
- July 11, 2019
Church dedicated among unreached Himba of Namibia
About 200 people gathered in early June to dedicate the first church building in the Ombaka region of the southern African nation of Namibia.
- June 26, 2019
Shoeboxes open doors and hearts for the Gospel in Liberia
Through Operation Christmas Child outreach events and The Greatest Journey, communities are uniting, families are hearing the Gospel, and once-closed villages are inviting Christians to talk about God’s love.
- June 17, 2019
Salem’s Dream: helping as many children as possible through Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child fan convinces family to pack shoeboxes for 10,000 children.
- May 30, 2019
She received a shoebox gift in Ecuador, now she’s giving them to others
Diana Martinez’s life changed forever when she received a shoebox gift as an 8-year-old. Now she’s on the giving end and also teaching The Greatest Journey.
- May 8, 2019
Watch and download Operation Christmas Child videos
A great resource if you are trying to reach people who may not know what Operation Christmas Child is, or are interested in learning about the project.
- April 22, 2019
Colombian, Venezuelan children receive shoebox gifts at Easter
Franklin Graham distributes Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in the Colombia-Venezuela border town of Cúcuta, Colombia.
- April 9, 2019
Operation Christmas Child blesses typhoon survivors on Saipan
Outreach events on the small Pacific island spread God’s love to children and families.
- February 13, 2019
See what the Lord has done through your shoebox gifts
See what God is doing around the world through Operation Christmas Child!
- February 1, 2019
Volunteer teacher loves using The Greatest Journey to introduce children in El Salvador to Jesus
“I can tell the next generations about Jesus.”
January 28, 2019Pack a shoebox online
Pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox online and share God's love with a hurting child overseas!
- January 15, 2019
Guinea-Bissau children learning the eternal hope of the Gospel through Operation Christmas Child
Gift-filled shoeboxes, The Greatest Journey transforming lives in struggling African nation.
- January 15, 2019
Sierra Leone children saying yes to Jesus through Operation Christmas Child
God using gift-filled Canadian shoeboxes and The Greatest Journey to transform lives in struggling African nation.
- December 29, 2018
Franklin Graham and family distribute shoebox gifts in Antigua
Boys and girls on the Caribbean island of Antigua receive Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- December 18, 2018
El Salvador radio station manager helps children receive hope from Operation Christmas Child
Station manager so impressed with The Greatest Journey evangelism and discipleship program that she might use it on-air.
- December 13, 2018
Operation Christmas Child shoebox packed in Canada brings hope to struggling El Salvador family
Rural parents can’t afford Christmas or birthday gifts for their children.
December 7, 2018The sounds of Operation Christmas Child
Hear 'Angels We Have Heard on High' like never before!
- November 30, 2018
Pack a shoebox with Uncle Si
Join Uncle Si and build a shoebox online for Operation Christmas Child.
- November 28, 2018
"Such a good tool for evangelism"
Eighty-nine-year-old Operation Christmas Child supporter sees how God works miracles through shoeboxes.
- November 19, 2018
Donate to Operation Christmas Child
By giving a minimum $10 donation per shoebox, you help cover the costs of shipping and other project-related costs.
- November 16, 2018
Texas Teen Crochets for Girls Around the World
Fort Worth girl sees God’s design in fulfilling dream to crochet purses for Operation Christmas Child.
November 15, 2018Good News and Great Joy delivered—by shoebox—to a teen in Mongolia
After 13-year-old Dariya received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift and attended The Greatest Journey discipleship course, her relationship with God was strengthened. What she did later with her shoebox was truly surprising.
- November 14, 2018
Young artist's prayers answered through gifts in a shoebox
Mariya, an aspiring artist in Ukraine, needed basic art supplies to continue pursuing her creative talents, but her parents were unable to afford them. So, she prayed...
- November 13, 2018
Canadian fights back tears as she recalls packing and giving a shoebox to hurting El Salvador girl
Melody Borgstrom was among a group of Canadians who travelled to El Salvador with Samaritan’s Purse to distribute Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and see The Greatest Journey in action.
- November 12, 2018
Franklin Graham reflects on 25 years of sharing God's love through shoebox gifts delivered to the ends of the earth
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, has delivered 157 million shoeboxes to boys and girls around the world. We praise God for so many children whose lives have been transformed because of a simple gift.
- November 9, 2018
Local Christians use shoebox gifts to help plant churches in remote Mongolia
Tuya, a former businesswoman, has a passion for sharing the Gospel and helping churches start new churches on the grasslands.
- November 6, 2018
Mission trip teaches mother and daughter what God is doing through Operation Christmas Child
Calgarian Janet Olmstead and her daughter Kristy went on a missions trip with Samaritan's Purse and distributed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes in El Salvador.
- November 2, 2018
Shoebox gifts open doors for the Gospel in South Asia
God uses Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to open doors for church-planting efforts in an unreached area—and also to bless the pastor’s family.
- October 26, 2018
Shoebox gifts encourage Venezuelan migrants in Colombia
Operation Christmas Child is bringing joy to children whose homeland is caught in a downward spiral.
- October 26, 2018
Shoebox letter prompts girl in Mexico to receive Christ
The doll that Jazmin received in her shoebox gift at age 6 was an answer to her prayers. Years later, God used the letter she received in that same shoebox to draw her to Himself.
- October 26, 2018
There's still time! Pack shoeboxes online!
You can send a shoebox to a boy or girl in need through Operation Christmas Child—pack shoeboxes online!
- October 23, 2018
Gospel light drives away the darkness for a boy and his father in Togo
God used Operation Christmas Child and The Greatest Journey to transform an entire family in this small West African nation.
October 9, 2018God brings new life to a disabled boy in Mongolia through Operation Christmas Child
After hearing the Gospel and receiving a shoebox gift, a teen with cerebral palsy puts his faith in Christ, returns to school, and becomes a Special Olympic medalist.
- October 3, 2018
A mountain community in Mexico responds to the Gospel
We praise God that children and their parents are coming to Christ in a remote village in Mexico through the outreach of Operation Christmas Child.
- September 24, 2018
A special Bible, packed in a shoebox, makes its way to a remote Pacific village
A child in the Philippines received a surprising gift in his Operation Christmas Child shoebox and God transformed his life.
- September 1, 2018
Celebrating 25 years of giving shoebox gifts to children in need
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, has delivered 157 million shoeboxes to boys and girls around the world. We praise God for so many children whose lives have been transformed because of a simple gift.
- August 13, 2018
Operation Christmas Child Photos
Use the following photos to feature Operation Christmas Child on your prayer wall, at an event or packing party.
- August 12, 2018
Operation Christmas Child Videos
Watch and be inspired! Check out the latest videos from Operation Christmas Child.
- June 29, 2018
Smart shoebox shopping year-round
Watch for holiday and seasonal sell-out deals throughout the year, so you can pack even more Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for hurting children!
- April 12, 2018
A shoebox gift helped a Tanzanian boy leave the streets and find real hope
Through Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and The Greatest Journey, the Good News of Jesus Christ is changing hearts and lives in East Africa.
- April 2, 2018
Enthusiastic Operation Christmas Child volunteer says, 'You’ll always be supported and encouraged'
Year-round volunteer Carolyn Jones is thankful for the many opportunities to serve and grow.
- April 2, 2018
Year-Round Volunteering with Operation Christmas Child
Are you called to volunteer year-round with Operation Christmas Child? Learn more and apply.
February 10, 2018Give your heart to reach a child in need
February is the month of love, and what better way to show love than by using your God given gifts to touch the hearts of children with the Good News of Jesus?
- January 22, 2018
Connect logistics coordinator gets to ‘be a part of something God is already doing’
Year-round volunteer Naomi Faroogh works to see the Gospel spread to all nations.
January 16, 2018Franklin Graham leads shoebox outreach events in the Dominican Republic
More than 250,000 children in this Caribbean nation will receive Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts this year.
- December 20, 2017
Shoebox gifts bring joy to children in Vietnam
A recent Operation Christmas Child distribution event brought smiles to boys and girls in need.
- December 12, 2017
Operation Christmas Child volunteer goes all out to help children in need
God is using an Operation Christmas Child volunteer to help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
- November 30, 2017
Operation Christmas Child gifts help build the church in Tanzania
God is using a bold church planter, with shoeboxes in hand, to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to unreached areas.
- November 8, 2017
Vladimir and the toy car
How could something as small as a toy car teach me about God’s love?
October 30, 2017The Gospel transforms a family in East Africa
15-year-old Bahati and her mother love Jesus today because of the witness of a local church equipped with Operation Christmas Child resources.
- October 25, 2017
A teen club in Ukraine studies the Bible and motorbikes
A Christian discipleship group in western Ukraine uses The Greatest Journey to help boys learn to follow the Lord.
- October 20, 2017
Shoebox Joy in Zimbabwe
See how God is using shoebox gifts to transform lives around the world.
- October 11, 2017
Go tell it on the mountains
An Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipient in Bolivia is sharing the Gospel and inviting her young friends to church.
- October 3, 2017
Former gang member in Peru trains to be a missionary
God used an Operation Christmas Child shoebox and The Greatest Journey discipleship program to transform a life.
- September 27, 2017
From a First Gift to the Best Gift
The first present Viorica ever got was an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. Later, she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior while enrolled in The Greatest Journey discipleship course.
- September 26, 2017
It starts with a gift
A shoebox gift is not just a present for a child in need. It's a doorway that allows entire families to come face to face with Christ.
- September 24, 2017
Shoebox gifts bring joy to children in Belarus
A church reaches out through Operation Christmas Child
- August 3, 2017
Operation Christmas Child brings Gospel opportunities to Fiji
Nine families are baptized during The Greatest Journey graduation.
- August 1, 2017
Anabel and a personal note
A personal note meant the most to me when I received a shoebox gift in the Dominican Republic.
- July 19, 2017
Multiplication in Peru Through The Greatest Journey
The Lord used an 8-year-old to lead six of her cousins to salvation in Jesus Christ.
- July 13, 2017
Siblings graduate The Greatest Journey and transform their home in Babylon, Namibia with the Gospel
God is using The Greatest Journey discipleship program to change one neighborhood in southern Africa.
- July 4, 2017
Operation Christmas Child grows Albanian church
Shoebox gifts in Albania start church clubs for children.
- June 28, 2017
Shanika & Sherika and the notebooks
We received notebooks and pencils in our shoebox gifts in Jamaica at age 8. Before this, our father cut a notebook and pencil in half so we’d have school supplies.
- June 22, 2017
Operation Christmas Child gifts for refugee children in Poland
A Ukrainian missionary uses his background to minister to refugee children living in Polish camps
- June 20, 2017
Vladimir and the dental floss
Growing up in a culture rife with bribery, my shoebox gift—given with no strings attached—showed me God’s unconditional love.
- June 14, 2017
Nadia and a doll
As a Christian from a low-income family in Ukraine, I saw my shoebox gift as an answer to my mother’s prayers.
- June 13, 2017
Shoebox distribution in Kenya jumpstarts journey to Christ for a boy and his mom
An East African family experienced the kindness of Christians and then embraced Christ Himself, leaving Islam behind.
- June 5, 2017
Orphans and children in poverty hear the Gospel
Children in Myanmar receive Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts and learn about God's love.
February 26, 2017Your church and Operation Christmas Child: A partnership for the Gospel
Share the Gospel, Build the Church, Multiply Disciples.
- February 9, 2017
Unreached people in Mexico respond to the Gospel
Many Western Durango Mexicaneros receive Christ at an Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution.
November 22, 2016Canadian teen restarts Operation Christmas Child at her church
Motivated by fond memories of packing shoebox gifts at Sunday school, a Canadian teen takes the reins and starts Operation Christmas Child again at her church.
- November 12, 2016
Comedian Leland Klassen travels to Senegal with Operation Christmas Child
Leland Klassen is a comedian who went to Senegal to see the impact Operation Christmas Child is having around the world...
- November 9, 2016
Shoebox gifts a blessing for impoverished mother and daughters
A Costa Rican mother and her daughters who are facing difficult circumstances find joy through Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes packed by Canadians.
- October 27, 2016
Volunteer team to Costa Rica see children impacted by Operation Christmas Child
Several Canadian volunteers traveled with us to Costa Rica to help distribute gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and see the impact of our voluntary The Greatest Journey Bible study program for children and families that receive...
- October 12, 2016
Canadian pastors experience Operation Christmas Child in Senegal
Several Canadian pastors traveled with Operation Christmas Child to Senegal to help distribute gift-filled shoeboxes, and see the impact of our voluntary The Greatest Journey Bible study program for children and families that receive shoeboxes.
- October 10, 2016
Shoeboxes Go Where Christ is Unknown
A Peruvian village receives the Gospel for the first time through the outreach of Operation Christmas Child.
- August 26, 2016
Alina and the princess shoes
The shoebox made me realize that Jesus hadn’t abandoned me. It was a representation of His love for me.
- August 22, 2016
David and a toy car
My interest in how things—and people—can be restored to new life probably started with that toy car.
- August 16, 2016
Alina and a music box
Alina received her shoebox at an orphanage in Romania at age 12.
- August 1, 2016
Azima and a handwritten note
In times of sorrow and grief when I needed to be reminded of God’s love, I would clutch my shoebox close to my heart and pray.
- July 26, 2016
Elena and a Gospel booklet
I learned that the truth of God’s love is better than any fairy tale.
July 12, 2016Roselyn and a picture book
My life felt gray. But when my shoebox came, it was full of color.
- July 2, 2016
Evgeniy and the soap
To the person that packed my shoebox, I say, “Thank you! You gave me something small, but it was so significant!”
- April 20, 2016
Taking the Love of Jesus to Costa Rica
Canadian family helps distribute shoeboxes to children and uses their personal experience to encourage a family coping with supporting a disabled child
- April 8, 2016
Gifts-in-kind opportunities
It’s easy for your business or organization to support Operation Christmas Child through in-kind donations. From toys and school supplies to machinery and transportation, the opportunities are endless.
- March 30, 2016
Hope in a box
Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts bring joy to mom and daughters in Senegal, Africa
- February 26, 2016
A skipping rope brings health and hope
A girl receives the gift she desperately needs in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox
- February 4, 2016
A special toy makes its way to Costa Rica
Stuffed toy inside Operation Christmas Child shoebox proves to be a blessing to Costa Rican girl who received it, and Canadian woman who gave it
- January 28, 2016
Canadian inspired to urge others to pack shoeboxes
Witnessing the reactions of children opening their Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes motivates Canadian woman to ask others to give
- January 28, 2016
Packing shoeboxes is personal now
After a visit to Costa Rica to distribute Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, Canadian woman encourages others to support Samaritan's Purse.
- January 20, 2016
Reaching the unreachable
Canadian woman is shocked by the living conditions of the children receiving Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes
- January 11, 2016
Hope for a single mother with a disabled child
Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts show mother of three that people from far away Canada care about her and her children
- December 29, 2015
Foday's story of survival in Sierra Leone
A boy's life is changed by receiving a shoebox and his journey from Sierra Leone to Canada
- December 9, 2015
With every shoebox is the Gift of the Gospel
Evangelism success in Costa Rica inspires Canadian pastor.
- November 2, 2015
VIDEO: Shoeboxes of joy in Costa Rica - Pastors trip
Some Canadian pastors traveled with us to Costa Rica to help distribute gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and see the impact of our voluntary The Greatest Journey Bible study program for children and families that received shoeboxes....
- October 29, 2015
Operation Christmas Child distribution in Costa Rica
Canadian pastors travel to Costa Rica to see how God is using Operation Christmas Child.
- October 29, 2015
Gifts of hope and love in Costa Rica
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes show God's love to poor children in Costa Rica and brings them to faith in His Son
- September 22, 2015
The most important thing to pack
"Hugs were filling in where words weren't even there to describe it"
- August 8, 2015
Devon and a shoebox
My shoebox caused me to take my relationship with Christ seriously.
- August 2, 2015
Irina and a pencil sharpener
When I received my shoebox gift, it was a gateway to realizing that God loves me.
- June 9, 2015
Bringing hope to Ukraine
Learn about an Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution in Eastern Ukraine
- June 2, 2015
Yuliya and a Puppy
"The stuffed dog in my shoebox became my new best friend, and I still have it 14 years later"
- April 20, 2015
Love in a shoebox delivered to Haiti
A volunteer witnesses the impact of Operation Christmas Child firsthand
- March 26, 2015
Police pitch in on playground construction in Costa Rica
Samaritan's Purse partnered with Calgary and Edmonton Police Services to bring hope to children in Costa Rica.
- March 17, 2015
Free of addictions and filled with Christ in Costa Rica
Lisa Gareau, Marketing & Partnerships Manager with Samaritan's Purse, shared about her recent trip to visit projects in Costa Rica with Calgary and Edmonton Police Services.
- March 12, 2015
It's never about the playground
Samaritan's Purse is partnering with Calgary and Edmonton Police Services to bring hope to children in Costa Rica
March 12, 2015Photo gallery: Building hope In Costa Rica
Samaritan's Purse is partnering with Calgary and Edmonton Police Services to bring hope to children in Costa Rica
- March 9, 2015
550 shoeboxes filled with love
Police officers from Calgary and Edmonton make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children in Costa Rica by participating in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution.
- February 27, 2015
Shoebox brothers
A special shoebox connects young boys across continents, and reminds a Samaritan’s Purse staff member how wonderfully God works.
- January 8, 2015
Faces of great joy around the world
See the delight of children around the world as they receive good news and great joy in the form of a shoebox gift.
- January 6, 2015
Jesus was also a refugee from terrorism
Displaced peoples in northern Iraq offer insight into the Christmas story.
- November 20, 2014
Broadcasting Joy
Renowned journalist counts handing out Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts as a career highlight.
- August 14, 2014
Hand-made gifts that connect people across continents
On a recent visit to Senegal, not only were children blessed with Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, but also a pastor and his wife with a meaningful gift.
- August 5, 2014
Operation Christmas Child: Stories from the field
Watch videos from an Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution trip that took place in Costa Rica earlier this year.
- June 11, 2014
To serve and protect
Police officers from Calgary and Edmonton who are currently serving on a Samaritan’s Purse Team in Costa Rica took time to honor Moncton, New Brunswick’s fallen RCMP officers.
- May 28, 2014
Dance dance shoebox revolution!
Children are so excited to receive their shoeboxes from Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child program.
- May 15, 2014
Healed in Jesus’ Name
A Tanzanian boy is healed when he receives his shoebox gift from Operation Christmas Child.
- May 6, 2014
A powerful tool of God
A Samaritan’s Purse team member shares how God is working through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.
- April 30, 2014
Shoebox distribution teams "inspired and blessed"
The quotes below come from Samaritan’s Purse Team members as they processed their trip and its significance in their lives.
- February 26, 2014
Child in Nepal leads her family to Jesus
A Samaritan's Purse project in Nepal that prevents child trafficking and sexual abuse used gift-filled shoeboxes to demonstrate God's love resulting in the child leading her parents to Christ.
- February 6, 2014
Shoeboxes deliver hope to children in Senegal
Grateful children in Senegal, Africa, appreciate shoebox gifts while millions more await their opportunity to receive gift-filled boxes.
- January 24, 2014
Airlifting shoebox gifts to Syrian refugee children
Operation Christmas Child loads a Boeing 747 with 65,000 gift-filled shoeboxes for children displaced by Syria’s civil war.
- November 15, 2013
Shoebox touches the heart of a Bosnian leader
A Canadian child’s gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoebox has a powerful impact in a war-torn country.
August 29, 2013Orphan weeps over first gift
"To all of you who have ever packed a box, thank you. Your kindness and compassion are changing lives."
- June 20, 2013
Love your neighbor: Finding forgiveness in Rwanda
A shoebox brings hope and love to Alex in an orphanage in Rwanda.
- June 17, 2013
Meeting Anita
A Canadian meets a special girl during an Operation Christmas Child shoe box distribution in Costa Rica.
- May 21, 2013
A shoebox gift turns sadness to joy
Operation Christmas Child staff member Freddy Fonseca describes giving a shoe box and the gift of joy to a lonely child in Nicaragua
- May 2, 2013
Selfless nurses in Haiti inspire others
Women in Haiti make precarious trek through a mountain range to deliver more than 500 gift-filled shoeboxes
- April 3, 2013
The power of a simple gift
A pastor reflects on how, as a child, a shoebox came with two precious gifts: a soccer ball and news that Jesus Christ loves him.
- February 25, 2013
God provides for children in Haiti
Each eager child assembled in a remote Haitian village receives a gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoebox thanks to God's faithfulness
- October 29, 2012
Shoeboxes of hope on Easter Island
On Easter Island, a little boy receives an Operation Christmas Child shoebox and shares his new toys with other children as he battles through cancer treatments.
- September 28, 2012
Shoeboxes, food, water, and education for children in Haiti
Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes help children living in extreme poverty to fight life’s battles.
Stories, Photos, and Videos
