What Is Operation Christmas Child?

A Simple Box, A Lasting Impact

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, uses gift-filled shoeboxes to demonstrate God's love to children in need around the world. For many of these children, the shoebox is the first gift they have ever received — and each one includes a copy of The Greatest Gift, a Gospel booklet in the child's own language.

Pleasant Grove has joined this ministry as part of our commitment to the Great Commission — reaching children and families far beyond our own community with the Gospel, one shoebox at a time.

The Season at a Glance

From Empty Box to Delivered Gift

Now
Pick Up a Box
Empty shoeboxes and packing guides are available at the church office.
TBD
Packing Party
Join us at church to pack boxes together as a congregation. Date to be announced.
Nov 16–23, 2026
National Collection Week
Turn in finished boxes at Pleasant Grove by this week.
After Collection
Boxes Ship Worldwide
Samaritan's Purse processes and delivers boxes to children in over 175 countries.

National Collection Week dates are set by Samaritan's Purse's 2026 program. Our Packing Party date will be announced soon — check back or ask the church office.

Get Involved

Three Ways to Help

Whether you pack, give, or pray — every part matters.

Pack a Shoebox

Pick up an empty box at church, fill it following the packing guide below, and return it during Collection Week.

Give for Shipping

$10 covers shipping, processing, and a Gospel booklet for one shoebox — give online, or drop cash/check in the box.

Pray & Volunteer

Join our packing party, help collect boxes, or simply pray for the children and families who will receive them.

The Packing Guide

How to Pack Your Shoebox

Choose Boy or Girl and an age category — 2–4, 5–9, or 10–14 — and label the box. Then fill it with a mix of a "wow" toy, school supplies, and hygiene items. A personal note or photo is welcome, but please don't include a home mailing address, for the child's and family's safety.

Pack These

  • One "wow" toy — doll, soccer ball + pump, stuffed animal, cars
  • School supplies — pencils, crayons, notebooks, coloring books
  • Hygiene items — toothbrush, comb, washcloth
  • A personal note or photo (no mailing address, please)
  • $10 online, or cash/check in the box, for shipping

Avoid These

  • Candy, food, liquids, or lotions
  • Soap (no longer accepted — 2025 customs policy update)
  • Toothpaste, medications, or vitamins
  • Breakables (snow globes, glass) or aerosol cans
  • War-related toys, seeds, gum, or sharp tools

From the Field

These photos are from a recent shoebox distribution at one of Pastor George's partner churches in El Salvador — the same partnership behind our summer mission trip. It's a picture of exactly what your packed box makes possible.

A volunteer hands an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift to a young boy inside an open-air church pavilion in El Salvador
A shoebox gift changes hands.
A volunteer distributes shoebox gifts to children while others wait nearby in an open-air pavilion in El Salvador
One box at a time.
Children sit together in an open-air pavilion in El Salvador waiting to receive Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts
Kids gathered for the handout.
A wide view of children and volunteers gathered under a covered pavilion in El Salvador for a shoebox distribution
A full house, ready for Christmas.

"Freely you have received; freely give."

Ready to Get Started?

Pack a Box This Christmas

Pick up an empty shoebox at church, or give online to help cover shipping for a box someone else has packed.

Give Online Get Involved