Reclaiming Wonders

Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes from Operation Christmas Child pile up every year as churches across the US display piles of those red and green boxes . And if you’re like so many of us, you take home one of the Operation Christmas Child boxes, wonder if it’s really doing any good, and question what to pack in this Christmas shoebox (aka how much money it’s going to take). I’ve volunteered multiple times at the OCC Processing Center – later I’ll show you what I learned.

I admit, I was skeptical of Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Despite a couple of years of packing boxes with the family and having a OCC shoebox packing party with other homeschool mom friends, I just went along with the trend. The impact of the OCC shoeboxes didn’t really mean anything to me until I saw an actual Operation Christmas Child video and learned how they boxes were used for Christian outreach. I think that’s the part a lot of us miss.

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What’s is Operation Christmas Child?

These Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes aren’t just a gift or supplies going to a third world country. They are an opportunity for you to partner with a local church to host an outreach event for kids and families. Each box means an opportunity for an unchurched child to meet Jesus. Each shoebox means twelve discipleship lessons for a kid to get to know their Creator and be empowered to tell their friends. These really are life changing shoeboxes if you look at it that way!

For Christian families – especially homeschoolers like us – getting your kids involved in real-world geography is the best way to care about the world. Don’t just let them hear about Mali – find it on a map and take them to pack shoeboxes. Ours were going to Mali when we were at the distribution center!

~~~> Looking to add more geography to your homeschool or family learning? Check out “How to Make Your Own Geography Curriculum”. It’s one of Reclaiming Wonders’ most popular posts and shows just how much of a homeschool rebel I am!

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What Happens to My Christmas Shoebox After I Pack It?

1. After you drop your Samaritan’s Purse shoebox off at church, it goes to the closest distribution center.
2. It will be sorted by volunteers to make sure it doesn’t have any prohibited items or needs extra gifts.
3. After scanning for tracking purposes, it will be sorted into a larger box of the same gender and age group. (This is how they know exactly where all boxes end up, and you can track their final destination!)
4. The magic of the Samaritan’s Purse organizing and distribution works here! Your box will travel on a plane or giant crate on a shipping barge. I can’t claim to know how this all works!
5. The boxes ultimately end up at local churches who host outreach events to distribute the boxes.
6. As the boxes are given out, they also hear the Gospel message through volunteers and through a book they are given, The Greatest Gift. Most of these kids then will progress into a 12-lesson discipleship program called “The Greatest Journey.”

My friends were able to travel to Honduras with the mission group Louder than Words, hike to a remote village on a five day journey, and participate in handing out the shoeboxes to the kids! They opened boxes with them, helped translate any letters, and shared the Gospel with them. So cool!

I would love to participate in this experience with Louder than Words; contact them if this interests you as well!

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What is Samaritan’s Purse?

Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian humanitarian organization with Franklin Graham as its founder, the son of the late Billy Graham. Samaritan’s Purse also is very involved in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of people in times of crisis.

Through disaster relief, medical missions, community development, and outreach programs like Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse is serving others.

During Hurricane Helene in 2024, Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief employees and volunteers were on the ground for several months working to rebuild North Carolina communities. In October 2025, Samaritan’s Purse hurricane relief also traveled to Jamaica for clean up after Hurricane Melissa.

Whether responding to natural disasters, supporting long-term recovery projects, or delivering gift-filled Christmas shoeboxes to children in need, Samaritan’s Purse works to show God’s love in tangible, life-changing ways.

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How Can I Work or Volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse?

For the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, pack a shoebox (or twenty!) and send it to your closest processing center. If you’re located close to one of the eight Operation Christmas Child processing centers in the US. The month of December is the time to sign up for a rotation processing and filling shoeboxes, helping lead other volunteers, or many other jobs.

While most Samaritan’s Purse workers are unpaid day volunteers, there are also paid leaders processing the boxes alongside the volunteers. There are also “office jobs” like managerial staff who hire and manage all the volunteers.

In addition to the Operation Christmas Child jobs, there are additional training and job opportunities with the disaster relief side. You can be paid for training and be on the list to be sent out in case of a disaster need. It’s more than just packing shoeboxes in bigger cartons. Head to the Samaritan’s Purse job website to see current employment opportunities.

Did you know there are also opportunities to join a group to deliver these boxes to the kids? Even though these are called “Christmas shoeboxes”, they are not delivered perhaps for months down the road. You can trek up into the mountains of Honduras – as my friends did! – to help give the boxes to the kids. How’s that for a full experience from start to finish?

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Operation Christmas Child Processing Centers

Who can volunteer to sort Christmas Shoeboxes?

Anyone can volunteer as long as you are over the age of 13. Take a group from church or family. If your church or school doesn’t already have groups volunteering, plan ahead and sign up on the volunteer list. Although the shifts I’ve done are only a half day, there are groups of retired people who come for the whole week like a mission trip! They show up on their church bus with their matching shirts and have the best time. You’re never too old.

What should I take for my volunteer shift?

Time will fly during your shift as you stay busy the whole time! These processing centers are often big warehouses, so you will be standing for hours on a concrete floor. If mobility or standing is an issue, there are some seated areas – just ask. I’ve also seen people come in with foldable cane-stools for sitting at the stations. Wear good supportive shoes and dress in layers as you warm up.

Feel free to bring a drink or water in a sealed bottle or a snack. Personal belongings and food will be stored a tub under the table. The Atlanta processing center often has a Chick-Fil-A on site to purchase hot sandwiches and chips. There are also picnic tables and vending machines to take a break.

Do not take in any knives or pepper spray or the like. Your bag will be checked when you enter.

What happens at the OCC Processing Centers?

When you volunteer to sort shoeboxes, you usually will end up in the processing center with a team. Come with friends; you get to work on those teambuilding skills. You will be assigned a team leader who gives you instructions and makes sure everything is flowing. This person is also a great person to ask if something needs to be kicked out of the box for safety concerns.

During your shift, you will check boxes for contraband items, add extra filler items if they’re too empty, tape the boxes, and everyone’s favorite – use the scanner to track which box each shoebox ends up in. I would love to see the behind the scenes organization because this is down to an art. 

~~~> Now that your teen has seen first-hand mission impact, let them go on that next summer mission trip. Read “World Mission Trips: How to Let Your Teen Go” and ask any further questions. You know how to find me!

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What Operation Christmas Child Age Group is Most Needed?

When packing your shoebox, we commonly choose to pack a Christmas shoebox in the age range of our own kids. Let the kids take part in the process and pack what they think someone their age would like.

However…

Kids age-out of the Operation Christmas Child program at age fourteen. After that, their younger siblings can participate but not them. That means, if they don’t get a box by the age of 14, they never will. With that in mind, aim to buy for older children if possible.

For my Classical Conversations group and our Christmas shoebox packing parties, we pack for the oldest boys – ages 10 to 14 – for this reason. From what I’ve seen while sorting boxes, OCC receives fewer boxes for boys than girls. Maybe it’s just easier to buy bows and dolls, but big boys need some supplies too.

The OCC Facebook page itself says the fewest Christmas shoeboxes come in for boys ages 10-14 and 2-4.

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My Favorite Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Ideas

Please understand that the kids will be receiving their Samaritan’s Shoeboxes as a group during an outreach event. Imagine being the child who gets a box half-filled with “junk” right next to a kid whose box is filled with amazing, much-needed goodies.

Consider packing fewer boxes but filling them with good stuff or pack Christmas shoeboxes with a group to save money with bulk purchases.

See below. One is a properly packed shoebox. The other is mostly empty. Don’t be that guy on the right.

Operation Christmas Child Packing List

While there is an official packing list and you will find tons of ideas online, there’s still more to know. The only “wrong” way to do it is to pack prohibited items, send a half-empty box, or fill it with useless junk. (You really wouldn’t believe the stuff that gets pulled out at the processing center.)

Save money buying in bulk on Amazon and hosting a packing party! You can also save money by stocking on the back-to-school sales. Get a little bit all throughout the year.

• Clothes: socks, t-shirt, beanie, scarf, baseball camp, gloves, socks. (Lists say underwear, but my first-hand box delivery friends say it embarrasses them!)
• Essentials: Fishing supplies or sewing kits, flashlights with batteries, drawstring bags Did I mention extra batteries?
• School supplies: rulers, colored pencils, erasers, pencil pouches, kid scissors
• Haircare: bandanas, headbands, plastic combs, hairbrushes
• Hygiene: toothbrushes with caps (no toothpaste!), washcloths, wet wipes
• Eating and drinking: plastic cups, utensil set, water filter straw, waterbottle; bonus if in a resealable plastic zipper bag to keep it clean
• Craft supplies: embroidery thread, pre-cut fabric squares, glue sticks, stickers, beaded bracelet making kits (create your own!)
• Sports: deflated soccer balls with pumps, foldable cloth discs, jump ropes

Bonus Tips for Packing a Shoebox

• WOW them. Start with a WOW ITEM like a soccer ball with pump or doll.
• Variety! Don’t just pack toys; add school supplies with hygiene items.
• Use space. Use any containers to hold other items like a rolled t-shirt in the water bottle. (Take out any filler paper or cardboard wrapping.)
• Keep clean. Pack items like toothbrushes, eating utensils, and school supplies in reusable bags to keep them together and clean.
• Plan ahead. Tape long items like a rule to the underside of the lid. This makes repacking at the center much easier.
• Be purposeful. Don’t pack in ziplocks if you can; use something reusable like a small plasticware container or pencil zip bag.
• Personalize it! Include a note or picture telling about yourself. Some boxes even include the address of the sender, so they can write to them later if they desire. Spread your love by making it personal.

What Type of Box Can I Pack for OCC?

While most Christmas shoeboxes arrive in the official, sturdy cardboard boxes picked up from local churches, you can pack in any type of boxes. If it’s in your budget, use a plastic-lidded shoebox or latching shoebox for further use. I even saw a tackle box – genius!

Of note, if you wish to wrap your box in decorative paper, make sure you wrap the lid and bottom separately. And that you can still clasp them together.

No matter what type of box you use, it’s a good idea to attach the top to the bottom with several large rubberbands which once again, they will be excited to have.

Can I Pack Homemade Items in an OCC Shoebox?

Homemade gifts are perfect for a Christmas shoebox and a great way to share some love. However, please make every effort to include good-quality homemade gifts in your box; gifts that will last. Ideas include knitted winter hats, drawstring backpacks, zipper bags, easy drawstring skirts, or homemade tote bags. Check out those links for examples and directions.

Don’t hesitate to also create some homemade games gathered in a little reusable bag. Colorful dice and playing cards with some printed directions are cheap and easy. How easy to combine dice, score directions, and a little spiral for homemade Yahtzee!

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Ideas for a Shoebox Packing Party

Our homeschool mom packing party is one of our favorite events. We announce the age and gender of the kids we are supporting (as I said, we aim for the big boys), and people bring their donations during the month. This way, we can buy items in bulk. Instead of buying individual (more expensive) items, we can go to Amazon, buy 25 of the same item, and distribute them to the boxes at our packing party.

After collecting items from all the homeschool group, we meet together for an evening of food, fellowship, and packing. With all the items organized on a big table, moms grab a box, take one of each item, and pack away. After this is done, we have the opportunity to pray over the boxes before helping carry them all out to the car.

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What to Not Pack in the Boxes

There are some things that are not allowed in the Samaritan’s Purse boxes. Know that, despite your good intentions with what you think kids need, the volunteers will remove them.

Quick forbidden list: liquids, gels, breakable, scary, war-related, food

Even though there may be a well-meant supply (like toothpaste and deodorant), these will be donated to local shelters. Some of items are not allowed due to the risk of expansion in the plane (like gel deodorants and toothpastes), and others can affect the quality of the other items in the shoebox (like fragranced soaps).

Also, remember these boxes have a big journey ahead – plane, boat, or even riding on animals. Breakable or sharp things (like mirrors) put the child at risk if they open to find shards.

Remember your ultimate goal: to share Jesus. The shoeboxes are going to a variety of countries and home situations. For this reason, scary or war-related items (like camouflage or toy soldiers) are not allowed. Any items that promote lifestyles or beliefs contrary to the Christian goals of Samaritan’s Purse should not be packed. Be sensitive to the languages and cultures of people different than you. Don’t assume they can read your English directions.

Also remember that, even though these are called “Christmas boxes”, they will not be there at Christmas. Feel free to put in a little Santa or Christmas-themed gift, but the recipient might not understand why they’re getting holly and a Santa figure in May. (Not to mention, they might not have seen either before as related to Christmas). 

Specifically not allowed items that will be removed from the boxes include:

• Soap, toothpaste, lotions, sunscreens, or any other liquids or gels
• Candy or food
• Any used or dirty items. All items should be new.
• Antibiotics creams or other medicated items (like lip balms or wipes)
• Guns, toy soldiers, camoflage, or scary – water-guns are allowed if they are bright colors and very distinctly toys
• Items promoting non-Christian beliefs, homosexuality, drug-symbols… you get it

When in doubt, pick something else. While you definitely don’t have to belong to church or be Christian to participate, the items need to fit the goal of the program.

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My Favorite Travel Resources

• Booking.com – This is my go-to website for hotels, apartments, and even vacation home rentals to easily find places for my group of 6.
• Trip Advisor – This travel planning and booking website has been my go-to for decades. I especially use it to find nearby restaurants and activities.
• Viator – My go-to to find for city tours and experiences.
• Omio app and website – European train travel is easy for booking and keeping all tickets organized
• Radical Storage – Busy travel days sometimes means needing to leave your suitcase somewhere trustworthy. This worldwide option makes it easy.
• Welcome Pickups – I just found this company, but I plan to use them next time we need an airport or port transfer!

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