Making a difference
Together we can make a difference in a child’s life with a simple shoebox filled with love, joy, kindness, and Jesus. We partner with Samaritan’s Purse’ ‘s “Operation Christmas Child” shoebox outreach. With just a few clicks, and a small donation, you can send a shoebox gift to a child somewhere in the world.
This year the cost of a shoebox is $30. The $10 donation per shoebox gift for shipping is already included in the price of building a shoebox online. This amount is critical to cover project costs involved in collecting, processing, and shipping your shoebox gifts to over 170 countries. It also provides for ministry materials such as The Greatest Gift Gospel Booklet and The Ministry Partner Guide. We encourage those who are unable to include $10 per box to consider asking a group in their church or a family member to sponsor this part of the shoebox gift. Learn more about what the $10 covers.
Build a Shoebox Online FAQ’s
What is Build a Shoebox Online?
Build a Shoebox Online is a convenient way to pack your Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift right from home. Choose from our selections of toys and other fun items to include in your gift. Then, personalize it by adding your own letter and photo. For a suggested donation of $30 per gift, we’ll pack everything for you and send it on its way with the message of God’s love for a boy or girl in need around the world.
Can I choose which country my shoebox gift will go to?
No. As with all shoebox gifts, there is no way for us to designate the specific country to which your gift will be sent. However, because all items available for you to choose are part of a preapproved list of items that can pass with relative ease through international customs, shoebox gifts built online are designated for hard-to-reach countries. Learn more about how your shoebox gift built online is taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Can you guarantee the items I choose for my box?
Shoebox gifts built online will be packed with the items you have selected or a comparable item. Occasionally we have to switch out similar items based on demand and availability.
Is there a deadline for Build a Shoebox Online?
You can build a shoebox online year-round, but keep in mind that shoeboxes built after December 31 will not count in the current year’s shoebox total.
What items are included in “essentials”?
The essential items cover personal care items and school supplies. They vary slightly depending on the age and gender for which you are packing. These items include chalk (age 2-4), crayons, colored pencils, notebook, pencils, pencil sharpener, pens (age 5-9 and 10-14), a comb or brush, and a toothbrush.
Is the $10 donation per shoebox gift covered in the $30 Build a Shoebox Online donation?
Yes, the $10 donation per shoebox gift is already included in the price of building a shoebox online.
Can I track my shoebox through Build a Shoebox Online?
Yes, shoebox gifts built online are sent to hard-to-reach areas and are tracked through the Follow Your Box lookup tool for your records. Once your gift(s) have been assembled and shipped, your tracking information will update to confirm shipment to a hard-to-reach area. Due to the sensitive nature of our hard-to-reach outreach events, we cannot share the exact destination of your online shoebox gift. Maintaining this confidentiality enables us to continue serving these areas effectively while ensuring the safety of our volunteers.
If I use Build a Shoebox Online this year, can I designate my box for my specific church so that it will be counted in my church’s shoebox numbers?
Shoebox gifts donated from our Build a Shoebox Online page can’t be assigned to a specific church or group; however, you can encourage your church or group project leader to create a Build a Shoebox Online Goal Page where they are able to set a specific goal and deadline for shoebox gifts built online. A shoebox tracker on the page keeps track of the donations made toward meeting this goal. We encourage you to connect with the project leader of your group to find out if there is a Build a Shoebox Online Goal Page already set up where you can donate toward your church or group goal. You must build your gift through the group’s Goal Page in order for it to count toward the goal.
