What is the power of a simple gift? Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a project of Samaritan’s Purse, has felt that power by collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to impoverished children across the globe.
The shoeboxes are filled with small gifts for children of all ages and distributed to those in need to more than 100 countries per year.
Some of the boxes are distributed here in the United States — to areas of natural disaster and always a certain number of boxes go to Native American populations in the United States.
This year, OCC will mark the collection of its 200-millionth shoebox since its start and hope to reach another 11 million children during the 2022 season.
“Children are the innocent victims of all kinds of devastation,” said Paula Keplinger, coordinator of Church Relations for the program in the Morgantown Area. “Children who have been orphaned or traumatized by war, children who live in places of extreme poverty who might never have received a gift before in their lives. It’s a thing that opens hearts and offers real help.
“Most Americans, we’re just so blessed we don’t even know — we don’t feel that pain,” she said.
Anyone can pack a shoebox for the project — individuals, families churches, and groups can all participate and still have time to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts for this year.
Each year, OCC holds a National Collection Week, which this year will run from Nov. 14-21. During that time, more than 4,500 locations will open to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for the Samaritan’s Purse project.
Locally, eight locations will be available that week for shoebox collection in Morgantown, Burton, Fairmont, Mannington, Reedsville, Terra Alta and Eglon.
According to Keplinger, empty shoeboxes can be filled with a variety of items like school supplies, coloring books and crayons, clothing and accessories like T-shirts, socks, underwear, flip-flops, non-liquid hygiene or personal-care items like toothbrushes and combs, as well as age-appropriate toys.
“They always talk about putting in a wow item, which would be like one large or special gift, often a doll or a stuffed toy or a soccer ball — something along those lines,” she said. “It turns out that soccer balls are like the world’s best toy — people love soccer balls.”
Keplinger advised that if you choose to put a soccer ball in your box, be sure to include a pump and needle so it can be inflated.
What should go into a shoebox depends on what age and gender group you would like to provide gifts for. Keplinger said there are three age divisions: 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14, and then boy and girl gender divisions for each age group.
“So there are six different groups of people that you can specialize gifts toward. Some items are great for any age or gender like toothbrushes,” she said.
Personally, Keplinger likes to advocate for washable sanitary napkins for girls in the 10-14 age group, because in some countries girls are not allowed to go to school during the week they menstruate due to lack of supplies.
“Education is key to advancement and a lot of girls are getting left behind because of this,” she said.
Keplinger said the children also enjoy when donors include a personalized note or photo of themselves taped inside the box to give that personal connection.
“I bought into how much it would mean for the children, but I didn’t count on how much it would mean to me — it gave me a real connection with those children.”
When donors include their address with the note, occasionally if a child has the resources they will write back, which can be really special, she said.
A $10 donation is also suggested — but not required — to be included for shipping costs and training for those working with the program.
There are several items that are not allowed to be packed in the boxes. According to the Samaritan’s Purse website these items include: candy; toothpaste; used or damaged items; war‑related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; seeds; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items, such as snow globes or glass containers; and aerosol cans.
If you are unsure of what to pack, or are unable to shop for items, you can build a shoebox online with the help of the organization. Visit samaritanspurse.org and click on the Operation Christmas Child link under the What We Do tab. From there you will see links for information on how to build a shoebox as well as a link to build a shoebox right there on the site that will be made to your specifications.
Local collection sites for National Collection Week include two Morgantown locations, The Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and Fresh Harvest Assembly of God; the Truth Assembly Chapel in Burton; Central United Methodist Church in Fairmont; First Baptist Church in Mannington; Mill Chapel Church in Reedsville; First United Methodist Church in Terra Alta; and Maple Spring Church in Eglon.
“I don’t see how you couldn’t be blessed when you get to pack a Christmas gift for a child,” Keplinger said. “That’s the best thing for Christmas and to give it to children who in many cases have never received a gift in their lives. You realize what a blessing you can be with a simple gift.”
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