Take a box and fill at home and return 10/27, 11/3, OR 11/10 to the back of the church
Packing a shoe box:
Please review and share the following information with others who are packing
shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child:
1) Please review the list of items that are NOT allowed in shoeboxes found at
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/frequently-asked-
questions/#gift-suggestions
2) Please use a regular size shoebox. This creates equality among recipients. It is best if
all children at an outreach event receive a similarly sized box. It is unfair to the
others who do not receive the bigger box. Large boxes also create problems in
packing shipping cartons, as it is common that one large box takes the space of two
normal sized boxes. Let’s reach as many children as we can!
3) Bar soap is a luxury item. It is often closely inspected in customs. The best way to
pack soap is to keep it in any original container or wrapping placed inside of a
storage or freezer baggie. Another alternative is to place the bar inside a sandwich
baggie into a reuseable soap box. DO NOT wrap washcloths and soap as it can allow
mold to grow in tropical countries.
4) Please do NOT place checks or cash into your shoebox. Historically the donations for
shipping were put inside shoeboxes. This is no longer the case.
PLEASE USE ONE OF THE ONLINE PAYMENT OPTIONS found at
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/label-options
OR MAIL A CHECK to Samaritan’s Purse
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607—3000
5) Please use a single rubber band to secure your shoebox. (No tape or ribbon, please.)
Shoeboxes are opened and inspected at the Fullerton, California Processing Center.
Any inappropriate items are removed; and if they are not full, additional donated
items will be added. The overall content of each box is preserved, as it is very
important to maintain the integrity of the donor’s prayerful packing of the box. Then
boxes are taped closed for shipping abroad. If you need more than one rubber band,
your box is too full. This can cause boxes to tear or crack as well as create problems
in packing the shipping cartons.