Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My box has missed the collection period. Can I still send my box or is it too late?
A: It’s never too late to send in your shoe boxes!

Q: I forgot to put my $8 donation in my gift box. Will my box still be sent?
A: Yes, your box will still be sent – there’s a child waiting for it! But to prevent us suffering a loss, we’d appreciate it if you could still donate the $8. You can make a secure online donation right now using your credit card. Alternatively, you can donate by cheque, credit card or money order and post your donation to the address below.

Samaritan’s Purse Australia
Processing Department
PO Box 6544
Blacktown BC 2148 .

Q: I donated online, so what do I put in my box to indicate I’ve made my donation?
A: Simply pop a note inside your box indicating that you have made an online donation

Q: What does the $8 cover?
A. Your donation of $8 or more helps us cover project expenses like shipping and warehousing.

Q: Can I send cash?
A: We recommend that you use a payment method other than cash. If you are using cash, please place the cash in the envelope section of an Operation Christmas Child Brochure. Alternatively, download and complete the Donation Form and place together with the cash in a sealed envelope. Place the sealed envelope on top of the gift items inside your shoe box so it is clearly visible.

Q: If I send more than one box, can I make one donation for all of them?
A. Yes, you may make one donation for all of them and place it in any one of your boxes.

Q: My shoe box is bigger than the dimensions you’ve asked for. What happens to it?
A: If your box dimensions are much bigger than we’ve specified, we may need to repack it at our processing centre into a standard-size box. We do this to fit more shoe boxes into a container so that more children may receive gifts!

Q: What should I pack in my shoe box and what should I avoid?
A: To give your box a nice balance, we suggest your fill your box with a variety of gifts. Click here for Gift ideas and Guidelines of items not to include.

If you wish, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family in a separate envelope. Personal photos are especially prized by the kids.

Q: What gift items would you suggest for the different age groups?
A: It’s helpful to ask parents with children of these ages, but we’d suggest:

• 2-4 years old: would especially love safe soft toys (no buttons that could be bitten off or cause choking); face washers, soap, dental hygiene items; but no small hard lollies, marbles or anything that could cause choking;

• 5-9 years old: would especially love school supplies, toothbrushes, toys such as dolls, balls, toy cars; mind-stimulating items such as solar calculators and musical instruments, paper and pencils; thongs, hats and/or T-shirts

• 10-14 years old: would be similar to the 5-9 years old, but are also ready for more challenging activities and craft items; girls would especially enjoy pretty dress-up items like hair clips and bangles, boys would especially love active games and gadgets as part of a varied box.

Q: Where will my shoe box be sent?
A: Samaritan’s Purse Australia sends shoe boxes to South East Asia and the Asia Pacific region. Click here to see where the shoe boxes went.

Q: How can I volunteer?
A: We’d love your help! Click here to see the many practical and creative ways you can volunteer. Please contact your local State Manager to make arrangements.