Samaritan's Purse to collect toys, supplies for 'Operation Christmas Child' Nov. 17-24

The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child will be collecting shoebox gifts — filled with toys, school supplies and personal care items — during the week of Nov. 17-24 and then delivering them to children around the world.

For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 232 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories. In 2025, the project aims to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 12.6 million children.

Operation Christmas Child partners with thousands of local churches and also with community organizations. Nationally, the effort partners with Hobby Lobby and Trail Life USA.

In addition, local Chick-fil-A operators partner with Operation Christmas Child volunteers in many markets (including Metro Richmond). Some of the restaurants designate a “Get a Box, Give a Box” day to give out empty shoeboxes to customers with a request to return a filled shoebox to their restaurant the following week.

Any business or non-profit organization may collect items and/or pack shoeboxes. In the Richmond area, the Operation Christmas Child Community Relations team works with Chick-Fil-A, retirement communities, restaurants, real estate agents, funeral homes, auto supply stores, pharmacies, engineering firms and other spots.

"Every box brings joy for today and hope for tomorrow in the heart of a child," said Linda Whitaker, Operation Christmas Child's community relations volunteer.

For details about how to pack a shoebox, view gift suggestions, or find the nearest dropoff location, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.