50 Ideas for Operation Christmas Child Boxes (2026 Donation Collection Mid-November!)

November 21, 2025 by Amber 26 Comments

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Here’s a full Operation Christmas Child List – choose from these ideas and give kids a memorable Christmas. Get all the details HERE!

Operation Christmas Child List – 50 Ideas of What to Pack!

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, I’m super excited to share one of my favorite ministries with you: Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child!

In 2026, national collection week is November 16 – 23, 2026. If you don’t want to physically pack a box, you can also create a box online!

If you haven’t heard of Operation Christmas Child, they send shoeboxes (filled with quality toys, clothing, personal care items, crafts, and more ~ donated by people like you and me!) to children worldwide who would not receive a Christmas gift otherwise.

Each year, my children choose a child in need to pack a box for, and then we head to Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby, or browse Amazon to pick up items for those children. It literally takes us less than an hour to do, and reminds my children and myself that there are those in need all over the world.

Here’s how to make an Operation Christmas Child box:

Find a Shoebox.
Start with an average-size cardboard or plastic shoebox. If you want to wrap it, cover the box and lid separately. If you decide to shop at Hobby Lobby, you may also find bins at the front that you can fill to get an idea of how many things will fit into a normal shoebox.
Girl or Boy?
Decide whether you will pack a box for a girl or a boy, and what age category you’re shopping for: 2–4 years, 5–9 years, or 10–14 years.
Fill with Gifts.
Select a medium to large “wow” item such as a soccer ball with pump or stuffed animal, then fill with other fun toys, hygiene items, and school supplies. You can also include a personal note and photo.
Donate $10 online and receive a label to Follow Your Box and discover the destination of your shoebox gift.

Operation Christmas Child Drop Off Dates:

National Collection Week for Shoeboxes for 2026 is November 16 – 23, and if you’re not sure where to drop off a box in your area you can go HERE to find a local drop off location. They do ask that you also give a donation of $10 per box to cover the cost of shipping – learn more about that over HERE and donate online as well.

I also highly recommend sharing the videos here with your children, family and friends as you pack your Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. This is one of our favorite ways to give each year, and I love that my kids get to see the other side of where our simple boxes end up.

There are a few requests and items to avoid in the shoeboxes each year. Follow the guidelines listed above. Here are some of the best items we’ve come up with to add to your Operation Christmas Child Boxes….. if you have any other ideas let us know!

50 Ideas of what to pack in your Operation Christmas Child Boxes:

These “shoes that grow” are a great option too! They grow up to 5 sizes (and expand 3 ways) and are made from long lasting material. Read more about their mission project and the company here.

Ideas For Older Boys:

Tools – hammer, screwdriver, wrench or pliers, duct tape, measuring tape
Fishing supplies – add in a small fishing kit, fishing line, hooks
Binoculars
Kaleidoscope
Plastic Magnifying Glass
Watch
Handkerchief
Collapsible water bottle
Harmonica

Ideas For Older Girls:

Also, here are a few ideas that Operation Christmas Child shared on their site as far as suggestions for all ages:

TOYS: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls, toy cars, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
NON-LIQUID HYGIENE ITEMS: Toothbrushes, bar soap, combs, washcloths, etc.
ACCESSORIES: T-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights (with batteries), etc.
A PERSONAL NOTE: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write back. 🙂

What is NOT allowed in Operation Christmas Child boxes?

There are a few items that shouldn’t be packed in the boxes –

Candy; toothpaste; gum; used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures; chocolate or food; seeds; fruit rolls or other fruit snacks; drink mixes (powdered or liquid); liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; as well as aerosol cans.

Additional tips for packing your Operation Christmas Child box:

Pack soap in a plastic bag to keep the scent from taking over the whole box and so that nothing leaks.
Remove packaging from your items so that you allow for more room in your box and so that they don’t have much trash to throw away.
Don’t send anything that has directions/writing in English (i.e. toys with instructions, games that require kids to read English.) Since these boxes go to non-English speaking country it’s worth only including things that are understood internationally.

This was from a reader on FB and thought it was excellent info:

Some of you are shopping for Operation Christmas Child now so I thought I would share this. I came across it recently and thought it was good to know.

FYI for anyone involved with Shoebox Missions this year. Very helpful info about what is actually useful and prevents a lot of waste. This info is from a church member that just returned from a mission. Shoeboxes were delivered while she was there.

What did the children like best? The toys – they don’t have any. The toys that are perfect and known by all kids – jacks, balls, cars, playing cards, marbles.

They didn’t know what to do with legos, or puzzles. Simple toys are best, even for the older kids. Avoid toy soldiers as many of these children are in war torn areas.

They didn’t know what a washcloth was. They don’t use them, or towels either. She had to explain how to use them.

Feminine hygiene products for some of the older girls, especially things like washable pads!

Stuffed animals don’t last long – they get filthy. Don’t send white stuffies.

Many boxes contained Bibles, but the kids couldn’t read them as they don’t know much English. They would bring them in and ask someone to read to them. But they were King James Version – hard for anyone to read casually! If you send Bibles, send an easy to read version such NiRV.

Water bottles are gold!

Bandaids – awesome.

Tape measure – YES

Any kind of hair accessories, but especially little pony tail holders for braids.

Sewing kits.

Chalk.

Bright colored thread (thread is hard to find there).

Tools

Flashlights WITH batteries

Eating utensils, bowls, cups, anything they can put food in.

Simple books or picture books so they can practice English as they really want to learn.

Drawings by your own children, of play & family activities.

And of course pencils with sharpeners, pens, markers, crayons, notebooks, etc, for school. Some of you are shopping for Operation Christmas Child now so I thought I would share this. I came across it recently and thought it was good to know.

Operation Christmas Child Labels + More Resources:

Print Operation Christmas Child Labels HERE
Find Operation Christmas Child Drop Off Locations HERE
Learn about Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Tracking HERE
Watch more Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Videos HERE
Find Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Deadlines for Packing HERE
See more Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Pictures HERE
Read Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Stories HERE

Have more questions? You can get even more free materials, recommendations, group resources, tips, and more right now by visiting the Samaritan’s Purse Resource & Idea Hub.

My sister Bonnie has volunteered for years at the one of the Operation Christmas Child Processing Centers in Boone, North Carolina. I loved her pictures from behind the scenes!