Many people during the holiday season wish to donate to different charities in order to help others. While there are many good charity organizations available for donations, one of the more popular charities is Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization. Samaritan’s Purse currently works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, and famine.

Operation Christmas Child’s goal is to “deliver great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes.” Since 1993, more than 220 million Operation Christmas Child gift filled shoeboxes have been distributed to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

The shoebox gifts are filled and delivered by local churches who partner with Operation Christmas Child, and persuade their congregations to fill up boxes, delivering the love of Christ to kids around the globe.

Donating to Operation Christmas Child can be a quick and charitable opportunity to participate in with friends or family. All you need is a shoebox, an Operation Christmas Child label, and a few small things from any store. Simply donate ten dollars with your shoebox and drop it off at one of the many locations around the country.

The filled boxes should be three things: fun, full, and personalized. Make the shoebox fun! Give “wow” items that make children excited for their new gifts. For many children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first present they have ever received, so make sure it’s one they will love.

The boxes should also be full to the brim, packed with not only toys, but school supplies, personal care items, crafts, activities, clothing, or accessories. These can be lightly used stuffed animals that you don’t use anymore, unopened games you’ve never played, or brand-new items from your nearest Target.

Finally, the boxes should be personalized. Many of the children’s favorite items from their boxes are the personal notes and photos from those who give. Write a letter to a child, introduce yourself, and pray that they will be blessed by your donation.

However, if you don’t want to pack up a shoebox, there are other options to help support the ministry. Volunteers are constantly needed at the many processing centers, and it is always recommended to package an online shoebox, donate on the website for others to make boxes, or simply pray for the organization to reach the lives of children around the globe through Christ Jesus.

Although National Collection Week was November 18-25, it’s not too late to give. Operation Christmas Child is open for donations year-round, and they receive millions of donations during the Christmas season. Will you spend ten minutes assembling a shoebox to make a difference in a child’s life? Visit the Operation Christmas Child page on the Samaritan’s Purse website for more details and information and to purchase your box and label today!