Churches, schools and families across the country are filling shoeboxes with toys, toothbrushes and school supplies this month as Samaritan’s Purse prepares for Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, set for Nov. 16-23, 2026.
The Christian relief organization, led by Franklin Graham, expects nearly 5,000 drop-off locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Its goal is to reach 12.8 million children around the world this year with gift-filled shoeboxes and a message of God’s love, according to the ministry.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, the effort has become one of the most familiar ways American families put their faith into action during the holiday season.
Packing parties are underway
Local congregations are already gathering volunteers. In Mississippi, Brandon Baptist Church is hosting a shoebox packing party on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 6 p.m., the Darkhorse Press reported. Volunteers throughout Central Mississippi hope to collect more than 20,000 shoeboxes, and the paper noted that people may take part regardless of church affiliation.
Similar drives are being promoted in South Carolina, where WFXB in Myrtle Beach reported on several drop-off locations along the Grand Strand, and in Tennessee, where WZTV FOX 17 shared the national collection dates and packing guidelines.
What to pack, and what to leave out
According to Samaritan’s Purse and FOX 17, a typical shoebox includes:
- Small toys, such as a stuffed animal, ball or doll
- School supplies like pencils, crayons and notebooks
- Personal care items such as a toothbrush, washcloth or comb
The ministry asks donors not to include candy or other food, liquids or lotions, medicine, breakable items, aerosols, war-related toys, or used or damaged items. It suggests a $10 donation per box to help cover collection, processing, shipping and ministry materials. Donors who give online can use a “Follow Your Box” label to find out which country their shoebox reaches, and families can also build a shoebox online year-round.
A ministry three decades in the making
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 244 million shoeboxes to children in more than 175 countries and territories, according to Samaritan’s Purse. Last season it collected 12.2 million shoebox gifts worldwide, including 10.9 million from the United States. Some of those gifts went to children affected by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, the ministry said.
“Each shoebox gift is an opportunity to remind boys and girls around the world that God loves them,” Franklin Graham said in a January statement announcing those totals.
Boxes are prepared for overseas shipping at eight U.S. processing centers, and local church partners distribute them. Some children are invited to join The Greatest Journey, a 12-lesson discipleship course, though FOX 17 noted that children do not have to take part in any religious activity to receive a gift.
What the Bible says about giving
For many Christian families, the shoebox tradition reflects the Apostle Paul’s teaching that generosity should come from a willing heart. Writing to the church at Corinth about a collection for believers in need, Paul said:
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, KJV)
Paul’s words remind believers that the size of a gift matters less than the spirit behind it. A child choosing a toy for another child they will never meet, or a family praying over a box before dropping it off, can be a simple, hands-on way to practice that cheerful giving.
The season of giving also comes as many churches are honoring service members ahead of Veterans Day, including the new path that lets troops train as chaplains, and remembering believers overseas through November prayers for the persecuted church.
Why it matters for families
Packing a shoebox is something nearly every age can do together. Parents can let children help pick items, write a short note or include a photo, and talk about what it means to share with others. For families on a tight budget, many churches pool supplies so that more people can join in. It is also a natural way to connect the gratitude of Thanksgiving with the generosity of Christmas.
What to watch next
Drop-off sites open Nov. 16 and close Nov. 23. Samaritan’s Purse offers an online locator to search by city or ZIP code, and hours vary by site, so families should check before they go. Upstormed News will share the ministry’s results when they are announced.
Read more: ‘Here Am I, Send Me’: New Path Lets Troops Train as Chaplains Before Veterans Day
Is your family or church packing shoeboxes this year? Tell us in the comments.
Sources: Samaritan’s Purse, “Fact Sheet: Operation Christmas Child” (accessed November 7, 2026); Samaritan’s Purse, “Samaritan’s Purse Celebrates 12.2 Million Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts” (January 26, 2026); WZTV FOX 17, “Operation Christmas Child announces 2026 collection dates, what to donate and more” (October 13, 2026); WFXB, “National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child is Coming Up” (November 3, 2026); Darkhorse Press, “Brandon Baptist Church to host shoebox packing party Nov. 8” (November 4, 2026); Bible Gateway, “2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)” (accessed November 7, 2026)
Leave a Reply