(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the October 2023 print edition of The Stand).

Since the 1993 formation of Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a division of Samaritan’s Purse (SP), the ministry’s goal has been to provide Christmas presents in shoeboxes to children while also showing them the love of God. What started as 28,000 shoeboxes in the first year has grown exponentially. As one of the world’s largest Christmas projects of its kind, OCC has now delivered 209 million shoeboxes to more than 170 countries and territories around the world.

Giving

Not only do the children receive shoebox gifts, but they are also given a chance to hear and experience the gospel of Christ. After receiving their shoeboxes, the children are invited to attend OCC’s discipleship program, “The Greatest Journey,” at a local church. So far, over 50 million children have participated in the program.

Last year, SP packed and delivered its 200 millionth shoebox, a milestone for the ministry. This achievement was celebrated by a multitude of volunteers and staff at an OCC Processing Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. There SP President Franklin Graham led the celebration.

Receiving

Elizabeth Groff, a former recipient of an OCC shoebox, was also present during the celebration. While in an orphanage in Ukraine, Groff received a shoebox when she was a young girl; she was adopted by an American family not long after. As an adult, Groff actively participates in OCC and was chosen to deliver the monumental 200 millionth shoebox.

Traveling around the U.S. with the symbolic shoebox, Groff visited different processing centers to encourage others as they packed and prepped shoeboxes for delivery. At each stop, she added a new item to the shoebox. On January 25, 2023, Groff finally returned to her home country for the first time in many years. Accompanied by Graham, she delivered this special shoebox to 8-year-old Natalya.

According to an OCC representative, Elizabeth Groff said, “[God] showed me that He loved and cared for me through a simple gift – through a shoebox. These children are receiving the news of the greatest gift of all, the eternal love and hope of Jesus. I think about when I received my box and how it changed my life. That’s my prayer for these children. I want them to know Jesus and remember this special day for the rest of their lives.”

Packing party

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Operation Christmas Child (OCC). One of the goals for the upcoming season is to collect enough shoeboxes to give 11 million more children gifts during the Christmas holidays.

In order to achieve this, OCC encourages people not only to get involved themselves but to encourage others to join the efforts by hosting a packing party with a church group or friends. Here are some packing party tips from OCC:

▶ Make a plan – Think ahead about when and where the event will take place and how many boxes will be packed.

▶ Build a team – Recruit people to help coordinate and promote the event.

▶ Collect quality items – Gather items, necessary and personalized, before the event takes place.

▶ Spread the word – Tell others of the event through social media or other means to gain more volunteers.

▶ Pack, pray, and drop off –
Start the event and pack as many shoeboxes as possible.

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