Who is the charity behind Operation Christmas Child?
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is an initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief and development agency working amongst communities in need in 18 countries across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Find out more about us at www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/whoweare.
Can you tell me where my shoebox will go?
We aren’t able to confirm the exact location where your specific shoebox will go, but we can confirm that for 2009/2010 we will be distributing shoeboxes to: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Kenya, Kosova, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Romania, Serbia, Swaziland, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
Do you open my box before it gets to the child?
Yes. All boxes need to be checked by a volunteer at one of our warehouses in order to ensure the contents are appropriate and suitable for customs purposes in the receiving country. We then seal the boxes, which are next opened by the receiving child.
Is it true that shoeboxes cannot include any religious items?
You will note that religious items are not on our suggested list of gifts to put into a shoebox, as we want to be sensitive to the indigenous culture where shoeboxes are distributed and we also want to place an emphasis on education and fun. However, we welcome appropriate items such as Christmas cards or Christmas colouring books.
Is Christian literature sometimes distributed with the shoebox?
Yes. But we never put Christian literature inside the shoebox and there is no obligation on a child to take Christian literature before they receive a shoebox. We do work with indigenous community leaders to make literature available to children that contains bible stories, including an explanation of the true meaning of Christmas in their own language,. These are only made available in locations where the local leaders we work with indicate it is appropriate do so – in around 50% of our distributions. No one is obliged to take this booklet.
How are the shoeboxes distributed within a given country?
We work with local partners – including churches, schools, orphanages and other non-governmental organisations – to identify some of the neediest children in a given country to receive these shoeboxes. These local partners then arrange distributions, where they will hand out the shoeboxes to the children they have identified.
Do you require the children receiving shoeboxes to be Christians?
No. Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian charity and the work we do through OCC is motivated by our Christian faith and beliefs. However, OCC is open to people from all walks of life, faith, race and ethnic background, at both the giving and receiving end. Shoeboxes are given to children who are victims of poverty, war, disease or natural disaster and are given on the basis of need alone. We never require children to become a Christian, sign a pledge, pray a prayer or attend Bible classes before or after they receive a shoebox. They receive these shoeboxes as unconditional gifts from people who care about their plight.
How do you use the £2.50 donation for each shoebox?
Your donations are essential to making OCC happen. The majority of funds raised through donations are used directly to support the work of OCC – including transportation, warehouses, communication and administration both here in the UK and for our partners in the destination countries. Any surplus income is used to fund other activities of Samaritan’s Purse, activities which often focus on meeting the needs of the children and families in the communities where shoeboxes are distributed.
What is the income generated through Operation Christmas Child?
As part of our financial reporting responsibility, we are required to report both voluntary donations and ‘Gifts in Kind’, with the latter being the shoeboxes (and their contents) given to Samaritan’s Purse during the annual Operation Christmas Child campaign. In 2008, the value of the gifts sent abroad as part of Operation Christmas Child was estimated to total £17.9m while actual voluntary donations to Samaritan’s Purse from all its activities totalled £5.6m.