Utah volunteers pack shoeboxes for children in more than 100 countries
Rising costs have increased the demand for school supplies and hygiene items collected by local churches for the annual Operation Christmas Child campaign.
By Marina Weber ·
Ten-year-old Josie is filling a shoebox with toys and school supplies in Draper, Utah, for a child who may never have received a gift before.
The collection is part of Operation Christmas Child, an international effort that has operated annually since the late 1990s. Each November, churches, schools, and businesses in Utah gather boxes containing hygiene items, educational materials, and small toys. These packages are shipped to children in more than 100 countries. Karolen Weber, a volunteer in the Salt Lake area, stated that most recipient nations face poverty, disease, war, or famine.
Weber noted that approximately 80 churches in the Salt Lake region participated in the project last year. This year, the organization faces increased pressure due to rising global costs. Weber explained that school supplies are essential for attendance in many recipient countries, where families must often provide their own materials. For households struggling financially, the cost of these items represents a significant burden.
Christy, who grew up in the Middle East, is now a speaker for the initiative. She recalled receiving a box at age nine, which contained a teddy bear with straight eyes, a detail she found rare in her home country. She became involved with the program recently after dropping off boxes for her own family. A volunteer recognized her as a former recipient, prompting her to speak publicly about the experience.
Josie, who attends Corner Canyon Church in Draper, participates in the packing process to ensure other children experience similar joy. She expressed a belief that the initiative helps reduce feelings of hierarchy between those who give and those who receive. Her perspective reflects the core message of the campaign, which emphasizes mutual aid and global connection.
National Collection Week is scheduled to run from November 16 to November 23. Local organizations will coordinate drop-off locations during this period. The campaign continues to rely on community members to fill boxes with specific items requested by families in different regions.
The boxes are prepared for shipping after the collection week concludes. Volunteers sort and label the packages to ensure they reach the correct destinations. The initiative operates on a model where local donors in the United States send gifts directly to children in developing nations, bypassing traditional charity overheads.
