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Christmas Child Shoebox Packing

Packing a Christmas Child shoebox to send to Operation Christmas Child is a great way to send God's love to children all over the world! 

This has become a Christmas tradition in our family!  We have four children of our own so we have chosen to pack at least four Christmas shoeboxes to send to Samaritan's Purse each year.

How to Pack a Christmas Child Shoebox


  1.  Choose a Shoebox - This could be any shoebox in your closet, one specifically provided by Samaritan's Purse (many churches offer these free), or we buy a plastic shoebox (less than $1) so that children can even use the shoebox to store things, carry things or even fill with water for washing, etc.
  2. Choose a Child - No, we can't choose a specific child, but you can choose what gender and age for which you'd like to fill a box.  Also, if you pay shipping online and print a label for you box, you can track your box and find out where it went!
  3. Fill It Up! - Samaritan's Purse gives lots of suggestions of what to include on their site along with things NOT to send in the shoebox like liquids, war toys, candy that will melt, etc.  

 Some of the things we make sure to put in our boxes each year include:  toothbrush, water bottle filled with suckers, soap & washcloth (This year I crocheted a washcloth soap holder on a rope; they say many of the children bathe in the rivers and soap can become easily lost.), crayons or pencils, coloring book or paper, sunglasses, flashlight with extra batteries, various age appropriate small toys, and a note from our family (sometimes even a photo).   *Samaritan's purse will include a Gospel message in each box!

  • 4.  Shipping Costs - $10 per box is requested as a donation for shipping.  When you pay this online, you will be able to "track" your box and see to which country it is sent! You may not have the time to go shop for a Christmas Child Shoebox, but maybe you can help by "sponsoring" the shipping for others!
  • 5. Pray! - We may not know where our box is going, but God does!  Pray as you purchase things to include in your shoebox, pray as you pack it, pray as you send it, and keep on praying for the child and family that will receive it!
  • 6. Send It- During National Collection Week (for 2023 - November 13-20) there are drop-off locations (listed on their site) all over or mail anytime during the year to Samaritan's Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607.

**Working at drop-off locations is another great way to give your time in helping process these boxes for their journey!  Christmas giving doesn't always cost money; living God's love out loud can come from giving of our time and ourselves!

Other Christmas Gifts

Samaritan's Purse also puts out a Christmas Catalog.  Give your child the gift of giving to others by providing for needs for families all over the world.  Gifts range from $5 and up; they include everything from Bibles, to clean water supply, to dairy animals, chicks & more!

Do this with your family or with a church group or Sunday School class!  What better way to put our family's or church's focus on the real reason for the season - Jesus!



Bible Lessons to Teach while Packing

Samaritan's Purse offers great resources for families or groups to help them better understand the Biblical reason for preparing and sending a Christmas child shoebox.

These include fun videos as well as coloring sheets and activities which may be downloaded for free. 

Another resource for kids that I love is a special printable note which allows kids to color and fill in the blanks of telling more about themselves to include in their shoebox.

Shoebox coloring sheet

Special note: We do preview the websites to which we link, but are unable to peruse them completely. We try to check others' faith statements and make sure they do profess Jesus Christ as God's Son and salvation is found only in Him. It must, however, be your responsibility to personally dig into God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to be your first and final teacher on all subjects.

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