Volunteers are preparing to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child during National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23. Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open across the country, including locations throughout South Carolina.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered shoebox gifts to children around the world, including many affected by war, poverty, disease and natural disasters. The 2026 goal is to reach 12.8 million children.
Those interested in participating can learn how to pack a shoebox at tinyurl.com/5n8ymmnb.
Participants can also contribute $10 per shoebox gift online through the “Follow Your Box” program. This provides a tracking label that allows donors to discover where their gift is delivered.
“Shoebox gifts may seem simple, but they have an eternal impact. Each box is an opportunity to tell a boy or girl in need about the true meaning of Christmas,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “I’ve delivered these boxes around the world, and I never get tired of seeing the joy that they bring—even in the midst of disasters, war, and poverty.”
To find the nearest drop-off location, visit tinyurl.com/y24sa2eh. The online locator can be searched by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the collection site.
Since its launch in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 244 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 175 countries and territories.
