Thursday, October 29, 2026 - Sunday, November 22, 2026
The Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to tangibly demonstrate God’s love. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 244 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 175 countries and territories. In 2025, Samaritan's Purse collected 12.2 million shoebox gifts globally.
Building on this global impact, Samaritan's Purse/OCC not only delivers gifts and essential supplies to children but also shares the Good News of Jesus Christ. This initiative aims to foster a deeper spiritual connection and help make disciples among the nations, ultimately spreading hope and love to those who need it most. Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is dedicated to demonstrating God's love to children in need worldwide by partnering with local churches. This initiative provides gifts and essential supplies and shares the Good News of Jesus Christ, fostering spiritual connections and promoting discipleship.
By filling a shoebox or purchasing a pre-packed one, you bring joy to a child and help spread the Gospel, the most important gift. Shoeboxes can be filled individually or with your family, your Sunday morning group, your Home Group, or even a group of friends. Click HERE for the official guidelines from Samaritan's Purse for packing a shoebox. In an ever-changing world, regulations are ever-changing, so carefully read the guidelines so your shoebox won't get pulled out or not used. Also note that you need to include $10 for each box you make to cover shipping and handling charges.
We also offer pre-packed options for $25 each ($15 for items and $10 for shipping). Laura Place, Brandi Little, and others have refined the shoebox packing process over the last few years to maximize value per shoebox, and our CrossKids and CrossYTH ministries contribute each year by assembling and packing shoeboxes. OCC is a year-round project at The Crossing, not just limited to November.
Collection Week this year is November 16th through November 22nd. Please note: all shoeboxes are due on Sunday, November 22nd.