# Samaritan’s Purse Christmas in a Shoebox campaign

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/samaritans-purse-christmas-in-a-shoebox-campaign
> Updated: 2026-10-27T15:30:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

The Samaritan’s Purse international gift campaign, “Christmas in a Shoebox,” is marking its 30th anniversary. The initiative has distributed gifts to more than 244 million children globally since its inception in Germany.

To ensure the safety and durability of items during transport, the organization has requested that participants avoid including sweets or fragile items, focusing instead on school supplies, hygiene products, toys, and clothing for children aged 2 to 14. 

Collection efforts are occurring across multiple regions. In the United States, National Collection Week is scheduled for mid-November, with nearly 5,000 drop-off locations expected. In Europe, collection points are active in Germany and South Tyrol, with distributions targeting children in countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, and the Baltic states.

## Claims

- The campaign targets children in age groups of 2-4, 5-9, and 10-14. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The campaign is celebrating its 30th anniversary. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Participants are asked not to include sweets in the shoeboxes. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A donation of 10 euros per child is recommended for processing and transport. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The “Christmas in a Shoebox” campaign has reached over 244 million children worldwide. (single source)
- THW Kiel has supported the campaign since 2021. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-27: Samaritan’s Purse celebrates 30 years of Christmas in a Shoebox

Samaritan’s Purse marks 30 years of the “Christmas in a Shoebox” campaign, which has reached 244 million children globally with gifts like toys and school supplies.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/samaritans-purse-celebrates-30-years-of-christmas-in-a-shoebox

### 2026-10-16: Operation Christmas Child prepares for national gift collection

Samaritan’s Purse is preparing for Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week in November, utilizing thousands of drop-off locations to distribute gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need globally.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/operation-christmas-child-prepares-for-national-gift-collection

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Cite as: Samaritan’s Purse Christmas in a Shoebox campaign. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/samaritans-purse-christmas-in-a-shoebox-campaign