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Group of school children assembling preprinted shoeboxes

Ideas for Schools 

Operation Christmas Child added a tremendous dimension to or school ethos. The beauty of the whole campaign is that you can link it into almost every aspect of the Curriculum. Parents, prospective parents and Ofsted were very impressed by the community perspective that Operation Christmas Child embraced.”

Pat Sabin, former Headteacher at Firfield Primary School Derbyshire 

Operation Christmas Child enjoys the support of many UK schools that recognise its valuable contribution to pursuing the vision and values of their schools. It aligns not only with the curriculum for Religious Education, Geography, Citizenship and PSHE but also overarching frameworks like ‘Fundamental British Values’.

Here are some ideas for how to take part:

Lola's Lion

Lola, a lonely little girl living in an orphanage, receives an adventurous cuddly toy lion in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The gift and a child’s letter enclosed in the box help Lola experience God’s love. Her uplifting story is perfect for children and their families, showing the difference that a simple, prayerfully packed shoebox can have in a life.

Download Video

Download Discussion Guide

Why UK Schools Love Packing Shoebox Gifts

"The benefits of supporting Samaritan’s Purse for the children here are enormous. It fits into the caring, supporting ethos of our school. It helps the children here to understand what life is like for children who are less fortunate than themselves. It gives them a sense of looking after, caring, and supporting others, and the children really love to do it!”

Helen Cole, Principal of Ballykelly Primary School

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We really wanted to give to Operation Christmas Child this year because we wanted to give people less fortunate than us more opportunities”

Matthew, a member of the School Council at Ballykelly Primary school 

The Journey of a Shoebox

Download our ‘Journey of a Shoebox’ film – following a class in Bedford as they pack their shoebox gifts and discover the impact they can have in countries like Ukraine and Liberia.

Introduction Letter for Parents

Download our Introduction Letter to Parents to accompany the How to Pack Leaflet, and tell parents all they need to know about the programme and why your school is getting involved.

Group of children holding shoebox gifts

Christmas Values Programme

Invite a local volunteer to deliver our Four Lesson Programme on Christmas Values that supports the work of Operation Christmas Child.

‘Christmas Values’ is a 4 lesson course designed in partnership with teachers and education trusts across the UK. It is a curriculum based programme, designed around the Christmas story from the Bible. The lessons seek to share the real story of Christmas through a thematic program of values. While exploring these values of fairness, generosity, esteem and individuality, we hope to demonstrate the importance and impact of Operation Christmas Child, as well as other compassion based charities. These lessons help deliver the RE and SMSC curriculum, fundamental British values, as well as helping with literacy skills through writing and discussion. The course is targeted at Key Stage 2.

Register Your Interest as a School

Register Your Interest as a Church to Support a School

Students and Shoeboxes

Pack Shoebox Gifts Online Together 

Building shoebox gifts online is another great option for your class or school. 

Choose from our selections of toys and other fun items to include in your gift. Then, personalise it by adding a letter and photo. We’ll pack everything for you and prayerfully send it on its way with the message of God’s love for a boy or girl in need around the world! 

You can even create a goal page and pack shoebox gifts together online as a school. Our custom goal pages allow you to set an online shoebox target, pack together online and watch as your goal tracker grows and represents more children blessed with the joy of a shoebox gift and the eternal hope of the Gospel.

Create a goal page

Build a shoebox online for £20