Operation Christmas Child is the largest children's Christmas project in the world, run by the Christian charity Samaritan's Purse. In 2011, we celebrate 21 years of this special shoebox appeal, which has already brought joy into the lives of over 80 million children worldwide.

In its simplest form, it is all about a gift – given by you to a child in need. You wrap and pack it, we check and send it, and our partners overseas deliver it. It’s that simple.

Last year, over 500,000 people from right across the UK and Ireland got involved - including many churches, schools and workplaces. Children and adults alike wrapped and packed almost 1.2 million shoeboxes (from the UK) and over 200,000 (from Ireland) full of gifts and goodies, which were then sent to orphans and vulnerable children living in often difficult circumstances overseas.

The journey of a shoebox..

Each shoebox goes on a remarkable journey, involving children and adults wrapping and packing, an army of volunteers checking and preparing, overseas partners delivering, and the children who need them most receiving and experiencing God’s love at Christmas. To find out more about this journey - and what goes into making Operation Christmas Child happen - click here.

How to get involved..

The shoebox appeal has now finished. Check back for details of our 2012 collection.

Would you consider packing a shoebox of presents and fun things for a child this Christmas? To find out how to pack a shoebox CLICK HERE.

We are also looking for more shoeboxes to help us on our goal of 500 boxes to be sent out from the Elim Connect Centre this year. If you have any at home or fancy asking a local shoe store we would really appreciate it.