(KENTUCKY) — Thousands of drop-off locations opened their doors Monday as Operation Christmas Child kicked off its annual National Collection Week, giving Kentuckians one week to deliver shoebox gifts destined for children in need around the world.
The weeklong collection period, running through November 24, marks the culmination of months of preparation by individuals, families and groups who have packed shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and personal care items. Nearly 5,000 drop-off sites are accepting donations nationwide as part of the Samaritan’s Purse project.
“Every shoebox gift is an opportunity to tell a boy or girl that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “I’m thankful for every single person who packs a shoebox because these simple gifts open the door for the Gospel.”
The organization has set an ambitious target for 2025: collecting enough shoeboxes in Kentucky and across the country to reach 12 million children worldwide. The effort continues a tradition spanning more than three decades, during which Operation Christmas Child has delivered over 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories since 1993.
Participants can locate their nearest drop-off site and operating hours using the organization’s online locator tool, which searches by city or ZIP code. Each location will be clearly marked with signage.
For those who prefer digital convenience, Samaritan’s Purse offers an online option at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline, where donors can select age- and gender-specific gifts for a virtual shoebox and include a personal photo and note. These online gifts are prioritized for delivery to children in remote areas, including jungle villages, urban slums, mountainous regions and Pacific islands.
The project partners with local churches globally to distribute the gifts as part of its mission to demonstrate God’s love to children in need while sharing the Christian Gospel message.
