Samaritan’s Purse is celebrating the collection of more than 12.2 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts worldwide in 2025.
The milestone reflects the generosity of millions of volunteers who packed shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and personal care items. In the United States, 10.9 million shoebox gifts were collected this year. When combined with contributions from partnering countries, the total surpassed 12.2 million gifts sent to children around the world.
Some of the shoeboxes will be delivered to children affected by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that recently struck Jamaica.
“Each shoebox gift is an opportunity to remind boys and girls around the world that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We are thankful for every person who packed a shoebox. These gifts are bringing joy and the hope of the Gospel to children in need.”
For many recipients, a shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 244 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
Although local drop-off locations are closed until National Collection Week, Nov. 16–23, individuals can participate year-round by packing a shoebox gift online at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline. Shoeboxes packed online are sent to some of the world’s hardest-to-reach areas, including remote jungles, urban slums and mountainous regions.
More information on year-round volunteer opportunities is available at samaritanspurse.org/occ.
