We have a huge list of Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas. This list is is divided by age to make packing a box simple and easy. Get the entire family involved and be a huge blessing to a child.
We are talking about Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas.
Many parents share that they want to get their kids involved with volunteering and serving others , but it can be challenging to find the right cause. Operation Christmas Child is a great solution which is why I wanted to take a few minutes to give you Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas.
This is such a great way to help others and really make a difference in someone’s life. Plus, it helps to teach children to serve and love others.
It can be hard for kids especially younger children to understand there is more to the world. Getting involved in projects such as this one can help to show kids others have needs.
What is Operation Christmas Child?
Created by Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child provides shoe boxes of gifts to children around the world, and each recipient is offered the opportunity to enroll in a Bible study course. Planning and packing a box or two is a wonderful way to involve your kids in service and also talk with them about other countries and cultures.
It is truly a wonderful learning experience for the entire family. We love to make this an annual tradition and everyone learns so much from it.
Not only can we be a blessing to someone else but we are blessed as well. It is such a blessing to see the kids put so much thought into packing these boxes.
Samaritan’s Purse is a tax exempt 501 c 3 organization tax exempt charity that is part of Franklin Graham Worldwide offices.
Operation Christmas child United States statement of faith mission is a great way to help those less fortunate.
Find the Statement of Faith Mission Statement here:
After sharing the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said “Go and do likewise.” That is the mission of Samaritan’s Purse—to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel.
For more information Graham worldwide offices contact info can be found here.
Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child program is simple.
You select whether your box will go to a girl or boy, in one of 3 different age brackets: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14 years old.
I try to choose an age group similar to my kids. It makes it easier for them to pick out gifts and they can relate more to the entire project.
Where to get operation christmas child boxes?
You can often get a box at your local church or community organization. You can also order them here for a group.
Another option is to use an average sized shoe box of your own to pack for the children. This is the operation christmas child shoebox size to use.
Have your kids help you select items to fill the box and pray over the contents and recipient. If you choose to track the box, take the time to research the country where it was delivered.
The entire process of making operation christmas child shoeboxes can be such a great experience. National collection week this year is November 18-25, and there are many locations where the boxes are accepted.
If you start shopping now, you can purchase items when they are on sale and make the most of your money.
You can also build a shoe box online as another option. There are lots of options for everyone to be able to participate.
I like to make Operation Christmas Child plastic boxes.
You can pick up one of these plastic shoe box style boxes (size of shoe box) from your local dollar store, Target or wherever you shop. These are great because the kids and their families now have a plastic container that can be used for other purposes.
Some years we have just used the free shoe boxes for operation Christmas child.
Whatever you choose is totally up to you. It will be a blessing to the child that receives it.
Some years I have used the traditional style shoe boxes and other times I have used the reusable plastic type. One plus regarding the plastic boxes is definitely that the kids can reuse them.
Whether it be for storage, carrying water or really anything, it is so useful to these kids.
So what should you put in the Samaritan’s purse operation Christmas child shoe box?
Here are some ideas for each age group. A good rule of thumb is to include one larger-ticket item (such as a doll or action figure or stuffed animal) and fill the rest of the box with smaller items.
Some people like to include a personal note. The kids might enjoy writing a letter or card to the child.
This is a great way to help make the project feel more personal to your children.
What do you buy for Operation Christmas Child?
You can see below some of the Operation Christmas child 2017 ideas we used in previous years. If you are looking for the Operation Christmas Child List pdf, we have it all listed below for you.
Simply bookmark this list or print it out for your shopping trip. I like to pick up items as I spot a sale.
School supplies are great items to catch on sale and use for shoe boxes. Visiting the Samaritan Purse website will give you a lot more information for shoebox gifts and the greatest journey.
Also, make sure to stay away from war related items.
Include Non- Liquid Hygiene items in each box:
You want to include hygiene items in each box. These are very inexpensive especially if you are using coupons or catching a sale.
- toothbrush
- bar of soap
- comb
- washcloth
- Wet Wipes
Can you put toothpaste in Operation Christmas Child?
Due to customs regulations, toothpaste is not allowed. You can find more information on the Operation Christmas Child website.
Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas for 2-4 year-olds:
(be careful of choking hazards – some kiddos in this age group will still put small items in their mouth.)
- 1. Puppets or stuffed animals
- 2. Crayons and coloring books
- 3. Wind-up toys
- 4. Dolls
- 5. Balls
- 6. LEGO® DUPLO® blocks
- 7. Plastic animal figurines
- 8. Play-Doh®
- 9. Silly putty®
- 10. Kazoo or recorder
- 11. Socks (boring, but necessary)
- 12. Large-piece puzzles
- 13. Small vehicles – cars, trains, trucks, motorcycles, etc.
- 14. Stickers
- 15. Slinky®
- 16. Sidewalk chalk
- 17. Toy tool set
- 18. Doctor kit
- 19. Dress-up clothing (princess dress, Spiderman cape, etc.)
- 20. Watercolor set
- 21. Dinosaurs (make sure they don’t make noise – no batteries)
- 22. Markers (wrap in a plastic bag to ensure they don’t leak)
- 23. Construction paper
- 24. Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head
- 25. Drawing pad
- 26. Matching card game (make sure the cards only have pictures and no words)
- 27. Etch-a- Sketch
- 28. Magna Doodle
- 29. Tambourine
- 30. Maracas
- 31. Water squirters (some people prefer to avoid water guns – your choice)
- 32. Barbie or Ken doll
- 33. Action figures
- 34. Deflated beach ball
- 35. Kinetic sand
Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas for 5-9 year old girls:
A lot of the above ideas also work for 5-9 year-olds, but here are some additional options for girls in this age group:
- 1. Jewelry-making kit
- 2. Pretty hair bands
- 3. Small purse
- 4. Colored pencils
- 5. Play make-up set
- 6. Tea party set
- 7. Bunchems! (little balls with hooks that stick together)
- 8. Critter family set
- 9. Fancy sunglasses
- 10. My Little Pony with accessories
Girt Ideas for 5-9 year-old boys:
- 1. Regular LEGO® set
- 2. Baseball mitt
- 3. NERF® foam dart set
- 4. Baseball hat
- 5. Binoculars
- 6. Bobble head
- 7. Rubik’s Cube
- 8. Die-cast car
- 9. Lincoln Log set
- 10. View-Master with cartridges
10-14 year-old girls Operation Christmas child gift ideas:
- 1. Journal and a nice pen
- 2. Pashmina or scarf
- 3. Bracelet
- 4. Umbrella
- 5. Sewing kit
- 6. Small jewelry box
- 7. Headbands and other hair accessories
- 8. Clip-on earrings
- 9. Paint-by- numbers sun catcher
- 10. Lip gloss
10-14 year-old boys gift ideas:
- 1. Keychain with your home sport team logo
- 2. Package of baseball cards
- 3. Small bank
- 4. Magnifying glass
- 5. Fishing lures, line, and plain hooks in a small tackle box
- 6. Yo-yo
- 7. “Astronaut” freeze-dried ice cream
- 8. Small frisbee
- 9. Water bottle
- 10. Small 3-D puzzle
5 Tips for Operation Christmas child Boxes:
- Avoid battery-operated toys. Not only may it be hard for the child’s family to replace the batteries, but battery acid could leak and ruin the other items. Also, button batteries (which are in any small toys that make noise) pose a hazard to young kids.
- Provide a re-sealable sandwich bag for easy storage if any of your items have pieces (such as a puzzle).
- Stay away from anything with instructions. Even if the child is of reading age, you don’t know where the box will go and what language they speak/read.
- Running short on time? You can provide monetary support for shoebox filler items rather than preparing and sending the box yourself.
Make sure you also watch this super fun video on how to pack an Operation Christmas Child box:
See! It is easy to pack pack a shoebox.
My goal is that these Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Gift Ideas inspire you to take a few dollars to pack up a box or two this year to help a child this year. My mother packs up 75 boxes each year!
Sure… we can’t all do that, but if we all pack a box or two… we can make a difference.
If you have heard about the Samaritan’s purse operation Christmas child controversy, it seems sort of silly to me that people are making a fuss about Christian literature being placed in these boxes. I think it is a great way to not only give a child something for Christmas but also reach people for Jesus in these shoe box gifts.
The Samaritan’s purse website is a great resource for more information and tips and graham worldwide offices contact information.
Head over here for more information on the statement of faith mission of Franklin graham offices. You can also find more information on contributions designated for specific organizations and employment Franklin Graham worldwide should you like to research more.
I always like to know about where I am donating and how it all works. Feel free to read more about it and get further information about where it all goes.
Get your kids involved!
My kids put together all the boxes for my mom’s gift boxes and they loved every second of it. It really helps to teach the kids to help others.
We also are making precious memories as a family. The time spent together shopping for these items, packing the gifts and praying over the kids brings us together as a family.
It is so easy for children to become consumed with their only little portion of the world. They often do not comprehend there is more out there and children doing without.
Projects such as this one can really help to open their eyes to the world around them. Plus, bring everyone closer as a family.
The time spent doing all of this will form lasting memories that the kids and entire family will remember for years to come. Traditions like this are so special to do as a family.
Children will often carry on traditions later in life and it is a positive cycle you are creating! These wonderful traditions can be passed on for generations to come with lots of great things being accomplished.
If you still have questions, there is a lengthy question and answer section on the Operation Christmas Child website. You can find lots of information that might be helpful to you.
Let us know how it goes and if you decide to pack a box for a child!
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You had a great list. Somethings I added this year for the 2 older ages was some rope and clothes pins, plastic shower curtain liner to help protect their mattress from water. Deflated Soccer balls with pump.water bottles, flashlights with 2 or even 3 sets of batteries. Their need is so great. For the girls some monthly pads and clothes . Pillowcases
We are so blessed sometime we forget the items that we are so use to having we forget not everyone has them.
I add a bath towel, tarp on sale from hardware for shelter with rope from $ store, hammer/ nails, sewing kits, Clearance open packs of underwear($1-3 for 5-9pr , Walmart.) , flip flops, clearance running shoes, tees, long camp shorts( Walmart after school starts clearances, school supplies from sales( crayons/ markers, pens/ pencils/ notebooks( total under$2), I ask others make drawstring bags to hold pens, blocks, marbles, doll, cars.
Love these ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Please send these shoeboxes to the immigrant children being detained in the USA. They do need a glimmer of hope. PLEASE!
Yes!!! I include fleece blankets, towel, washcloths, feminine cloth pads, clothes line/ clothes pins,soap detangler hair combs, toothbrushes, clothing includuding long modest school or camp shorts( clearance at Walmart, after school starts), teeshirts, running shoes/ flip flops, slippers, underwear, modest length dresses/ skirts, clearance school/ art supplies,folded computer paper sheets, nature coloring sheets from online, crayons/ markers, playdoh/ clay, Rubiks Cube, slinky, harmonicas, blocks, doll, checkers game, art supplies, cars, stuffed toys to hug.
Awesome ideas!
Have boxes will fill where do I take them when finished? Can you locate a collection spot in Boerne Texas? Or in Northwest San Antonio Texas between IH 10 and Highway 1604and Northwest Military Highway.??
You can find their drop off locations on their website – https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/. Thank you!
I do this every year. I start early and collect toys on sale after each Holiday (like Easter or St Valentine day etc…). Also toys are usually cheaper in the Summer. School supplies are usually pretty cheap and go on sale towards the end of August. I use shoe boxes and reinforce them with colorful duck tape.
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing. We love collecting toys all year too!
Love this! I also find teeshirts and longer school shorts on clearance from Walmart, after school starts( both for about $3-$4 total, opened packs of underwear and socks$1-$3, dresses, skirts, flip flops, seasonal shoe clearances sales, fishing needs at Walmart end of summer clearance( fishing line, sinkers, hooks, floats all for $3, ( for teens), clothes line/ pins, clearance holiday fleece blankets($1), bath towel sales, washcloths, soap, hooded sweatshirts/ jog pants seasonal clearances. combs,
Love these ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Are we allowed to tape the box closed
I’m not sure – I haven’t ever taped mine before. Thanks!
Do not tape the boxes shut. They check the enclosed items and remove anything that isn’t appropriate and also add in if the box isn’t full. Put a rubber band around your box to hold it shut.
Thanks for sharing!
These are great ideas for the kids. I will consider and give it to my 2 daughters
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Could you please let people know that they can send extras. Just box up what you can so if some boxes aren’t full, there will be something to add. As in extra pencils, washcloth, stuffed animals, clothing. I didn’t know they accepted extra stuff and passed up 3 cart full of girls sandals at $1.00 a pair. Thanks
Oh I didn’t realize that either – Thank you so much for sharing!
Another great place to shop, especially for t-shirts is Michael’s craft store. Seasonal items on clearance, coupon sales… all make the $ go further!