Since its beginning in 1993, over 54 million children have been impacted in 122 countries through “Operation Christmas Child,” a project of Samaritan’s Purse, the international Christian relief organization led by Franklin Graham. Just last year, “Operation Christmas Child” touched the lives of 7.6 million needy children in 95 countries (including Panama, Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Russia, and South Africa), as shoe boxes filled with toys, candy, and other small gifts brought happiness to boys and girls who otherwise would not have received any presents. The gifts also open doors for presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ through children’s literature, personal witnessing, and evangelistic programs.

The purpose of “Operation Christmas Child” is to involve people from across the world in reaching out to children in war- and famine-torn countries with the message of hope enclosed in a simple gift-filled shoebox for Christmas. Many of these children have never received a gift of any kind in their lives.

"I wish everyone could see the smiles of the millions of grateful children around the world who have received gift-filled shoeboxes through Operation Christmas Child. These children have suffered because of war, natural disaster, poverty, illness or neglect. But their faces light up as they dig through their boxes, uncovering new treasures,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

“Operation Christmas Child” is not new to the Metroplex. During its beginning, Franklin Graham asked his friend, our Pastor, Dr. Jack Graham, to involve Prestonwood as the Area Collection Center. In 1999, Pastor Graham traveled with Franklin Graham and others to distribute thousands of shoebox gifts to children in Honduras. “Operation Christmas Child is a simple, 'hands-on' project that can appeal to everyone,” Pastor Graham said. “It’s a very effective way to bring families and people together while touching the lives of children whose lives have been turned upside-down by war or famine. To see the joy on the faces of the children as they receive their gifts is truly indescribable. And knowing that each child receives the life-changing message of the Gospel in their own language has made it a perfect fit for us."

Collection Dates

Now in our 14th year, Prestonwood Baptist Church will once again serve as an Area Collection Center. Last year, we received more than 38,800 shoe box gifts from churches, businesses, schools and families from the northern and eastern realms of Dallas and surrounding communities. The shoeboxes are filled with small toys, candy, personal notes, photos and necessity items such as flashlights, school supplies and hygiene products.

To take part, pick up an instructional brochure and an optional decorative shoebox at our Operation Christmas Child booth in the Atrium on Oct. 27-28 or Nov. 3-4.

We encourage using either an empty shoebox from home or purchasing a plastic shoebox at any local discount store.

You can bring your gift-filled shoeboxes to Prestonwood Saturday, Nov. 10 through Monday, Nov. 19.

How to Pack a Shoebox

• Find an empty shoebox or purchase a plastic shoebox. You can wrap the lid separately if you’d like, but wrapping is not required. Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and determine the recipient’s age. Then, fill the box with simple gifts such as toys, stuffed animals, dolls, balls, cars, school supplies and hygiene items such as toothpaste, soap, brushes or combs.
• Shoebox destination countries vary from year to year.
• It will be important for you to properly label the outside of your box with “boy” or “girl” and the appropriate age.
• To help cover the transportation cost of your shoebox gift, please include a tax-deductible check for $7 made payable to Samaritan’s Purse for each of your shoebox gifts. If you pack more than one box, you may write one check for them all and place it in any one of your boxes.

For more details, please visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ_index.asp.