U.S. Volunteers Exceed Goal of Collecting Christmas Gifts for 12 Million Children. U.S. volunteers have collected enough gift-filled shoeboxes to reach more than 12 million children in need through the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child, but they are not resting on their success. Although local drop-off locations have closed for the season, there is still time to remind children overseas that God loves them.