One small shoebox has the power to change a child’s life.
Packing an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox is a simple yet meaningful way to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with children worldwide. Whether it’s your first time packing a box or you’re a seasoned pro, here’s everything you need to know about how to pack a shoebox that will make a real impact.
Six-Step Guide to Packing a Shoebox:
1. Get a Shoebox
Start with an average-sized shoebox, plastic or cardboard. Use your own or order pre-printed ones from Samaritan’s Purse.
Tip: Plastic shoeboxes last longer and are more practical as recipients can reuse them.
2. Choose the Age and Gender
Decide who you’re packing for:
- Boy or Girl
- Age groups:
- 2-4 years
- 5-9 years
- 10-14 years
Label the box accordingly. You can order the official labels or print your own from the OCC website.
3. Fill with Gifts
Go shopping and include one medium to large “wow” item. Fill the remaining space with fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and accessories. See some of our favorite picks from Ruth’s Attic below!
Add a note, photo, or decorate the inside of your box. Personal touches like this mean more than you might think.
Need more inspiration? Check out OCC’s gift suggestions. No liquids, toothpaste, war toys, or food allowed. Note, soap is no longer allowed due to customs complications. If you’re unsure about an item, OCC has made it easy—use the search tool to look up items and find out if they can be packed.
4. Donate $10 Per Shoebox for Shipping
Each shoebox needs a $10 donation to cover shipping and ministry costs. You can put cash/check in an envelope inside the box, or pay online. When you pay online, you’re able to get a trackable label so you can follow your box to its destination.
5. Secure and Pray
Make sure you secure the box with a rubber band so it can easily be inspected at the distribution center—don’t tape it shut.
Then, pray for the child who receives your box, their community, and those who will deliver the box. This is one of the most important parts of the process.
6. Find a Drop Off Location
Take your shoebox to a local drop-off location during National Collection Week, Nov. 17-24, 2025. Or bring your box to the Library’s Bikers With Boxes event on Oct. 18.
It’s more than just a shoebox—it’s a Gospel opportunity. So, head to Ruth’s Attic bookstore to shop for gifts to fill your box, and give the hope of Christmas to children around the world.
“I am convinced the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God’s love for them in Christ.”
—Billy Graham
More Ways to Get Involved
Bikers With Boxes—Oct. 18, 2025
Every fall, hundreds of bikers flood the Billy Graham Library grounds for Bikers With Boxes, an annual event with one mission: to collect as many gift-filled shoeboxes as possible for Operation Christmas Child. Ride in and bring your packed shoeboxes to the Library on this day, and enjoy free food, giveaways, and more. It’s not too late to sign up!