A sorting office in Kent has sent 56,000 shoeboxes to children around the world as part of the international Samaritan’s Purse initiative Operation Christmas Child.
The processing centre, based in Tonbridge, sent donated gift boxes to Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Serbia.
Madeleine McClintock, a spokesperson for the Tonbridge centre, told the BBC that donations in Kent were 5% higher than in 2023 and that some of the boxes donated were “absolutely beautiful”.
The initiative, described by the charity as a “practical way to bless children in need around the world”, involves people filling a shoebox with toys, toiletries, school supplies and fun gifts.
Volunteers load the checked shoe boxes into trucks [Madeleine McClintock]
Samaritan’s Purse is a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization.
Every year the charity works with local churches to raise awareness of the appeal of the shoebox.
Ms McClintock said that “people knowing about Jesus” was “really important to me”, but acknowledged that the shoebox initiative transcended religion.
“Everyone is welcome to come and help,” she says.
“People do it for different reasons, but often because they enjoy giving a gift.”
Operation Christmas Child began in 1993 when the charity sent 28,000 boxes to children in the Balkans.
According to the charity, more than 220 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received a shoebox since 1993.
Each gift-filled box is checked by a volunteer [Madeleine McClintock]
How does it work?
Each year, Samaritan’s Purse publishes a list of what it looks for in donated boxes through its website and flyers.
People who want to take part should find a medium box and donate £5 to cover postage.
When purchased online, people can download a personalized barcode to track where their gift ends up.
Once filled, people donate their boxes to a local drop-off point, usually a church, warehouse or store.
At the organization center, volunteers then search all boxes and check for liquids, candies and other prohibited items.
Mrs McClintock said: “Things that are taken out we put in a special collection bin and they are given to local charities.
“We need to unbox all Christian literature so that it is neutral,” she added.
The boxes are then secured, boxed, loaded onto a truck and sent around the world.
Volunteers in each country then distribute the boxes in time for Christmas.
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