Operation Christmas Child

How it works

October

Each shoebox is filled by Rotarians with hygiene items, school supplies, and toys, and is given to children regardless of gender, race, or religion. When culturally appropriate, copies of a book entitled The Greatest Gift, which has been translated into 130 different languages, are offered to children after the shoeboxes have already been distributed.

History

Operation Christmas Child was started in 1990. In 1993, Operation Christmas Child grew and was adopted by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization run by Franklin Graham. To date, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed over 135 million shoebox gifts worldwide. In 2016, Canadians donated 664,525 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for hurting children around the world.