Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week Runs November 16-23: Nearly 5,000 Drop-Off Sites and a Goal of Reaching 12.8 Million Children
Volunteers across the United States are preparing for National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child, the Samaritan's Purse project that sends gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world. From November 16 to 23, nearly 5,000 drop-off locations nationwide will open to receive shoebox gifts packed by churches, groups and individuals.
Each shoebox holds toys, school supplies and personal care items for a child facing poverty, illness, war or disaster. Operation Christmas Child hopes to reach 12.8 million children in 2026. Since it began in 1993, the project has collected and delivered more than 244 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 175 countries and territories.
Packing a box is simple: fill a standard shoebox with gifts chosen for a child's age group and gender, and take it to a nearby drop-off site during collection week. Participants can also donate $10 per shoebox gift online through the 'Follow Your Box' feature to receive a tracking label and discover where their box was delivered. For those unable to shop, the Samaritan's Purse website offers a 'Build a Box' option: a $25 donation lets the organization build one on the donor's behalf.
After collection week, the boxes travel to processing centers around the country, where volunteers inspect and prepare them for the journey overseas. The project partners with local churches worldwide to deliver the gifts. 'These gifts may seem simple, but they have an eternal impact,' said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. 'Each box is an opportunity to tell a boy or girl in need about the true meaning of Christmas.'
Drop-off hours vary by location, and Samaritan's Purse directs participants to samaritanspurse.org to find their nearest site, check its hours, and review the how-to-pack guidance before collection week begins.
(Source: Samaritan's Purse)
Source: Samaritan's Purse
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 美国海军人员参与「圣诞儿童行动」鞋盒分装（资料图）。图片来自 Wikimedia Commons，公共领域。 / U.S. Navy personnel take part in an Operation Christmas Child packing event (file photo). Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
