OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (OCC)
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD UPDATE
National Collection Week begins:
Monday, November 17th - Monday, November 24th
For 2025: Please do not include: "Soap in your shoeboxes, it is no longer allowed"
Fill A Truck will again be available outside of Immanuel Church to drop off your filled shoebox gifts.
Saturday, November 22nd - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday, November 23rd - 8:30am - 12:00pm
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES TO PROCESS SHOEBOXES
Aurora Processing Center
800 N. Commerce St.
Aurora, IL 60504
Registration opens online to sign up to process the shoeboxes: October 3, 2025
Shoebox Processing begins: November 26, 2025
Volunteer Opportunities at the Aurora Processing Center are available to process the "Build a Shoebox Online Fulfillment". Opportunities begin January 20, 2026 and will continue onto February until all of the shoeboxes have been filled.
Days/Shifts to sign up are:
Tuesday-Saturday: 9-12pm, 12-3pm, 3-6pm, 6-9pm.
These shoeboxes that are built online go to the ends of the earth to children in some of the hardest to reach places. Each shoebox
is an opportunity to share God's Love with a child in need or who may have never heard the name of Jesus.
Event Available: Register to Join us for Latino Night at the Aurora Processing Center. Friday, 12/5/25, 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Email Susan Schmidt [email protected] if you have questions.
What is Operation Christmas Child?
The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts‑filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift—filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts‑filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift—filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Since 1993 more than 232 million children in over 170 Countries and territories have received a shoebox gift.
In 2024, over 11.9 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide. 10.5 million were from the US. More than 82,000 churches collected shoebox gifts.
2025 Goal: 12.6 million shoebox gifts globally with 11.1 million of these from the US.
Since 1993 more than 232 million children in over 170 Countries and territories have received a shoebox gift.
In 2024, over 11.9 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide. 10.5 million were from the US. More than 82,000 churches collected shoebox gifts.
2025 Goal: 12.6 million shoebox gifts globally with 11.1 million of these from the US.
Eternal Impact
Delivered into the hands of children through local churches, every shoebox gift is an opportunity to share about Jesus Christ and God’s love. Since 2009, more than 2.2 million + trained volunteer teaching positions have been filled to lead the 46 million + children who have enrolled in "The Greatest Journey", a 12-lesson discipleship program. During the series of classes, children learn to follow Jesus and tell others about Him. At the graduation ceremony, they receive a certificate and a colorfully illustrated New Testament in their own language.
More than 23 million participants have made decisions for Christ.