What Operation Christmas Box do – Operation Christmas Box

What we do

Operation Christmas Box is a registered charity which provides Christmas Boxes full of presents (affectionately known as the 'Square Stocking') as a gift from the nation to all those serving in the UK Armed Forces on tours of duty overseas away from their families and loved ones on Christmas Day.

Thanks entirely to generous donations from members of the public and our sponsors, Operation Christmas Box will be sending around 8,600 Christmas gift boxes to UK Armed Forces unaccompanied personnel on duty overseas. At its busiest, Operation Christmas Box was sending 24,500 boxes each year.

The charity does not receive any public funds, but the Ministry of Defence (MOD) supports the charity with advice and guidance on the number of boxes required and the contents. It also assists with the massive logistic operation it takes to deliver the boxes in time for Christmas Day.

We ensure that all Servicemen and Servicewomen who are serving away at Christmas receive a box, whether they are in the Royal Navy, Army or the Royal Air Force, and wherever they are in the world.

The initiative was inspired by the 1914 Christmas Gift Fund, established by Princess Mary, the daughter of King George V. You can find out more about the first Christmas box here.

Supporting UK Armed Forces

The intention is that the Christmas Boxes are sent only for UK Armed Forces, the MOD civil servants and defence contractors supporting them in theatre, serving away from their families and loved ones at Christmas. However, on Christmas Day, when the boxes are distributed, it is possible that there will be a small number of personnel from other countries attached to our UK troops, and sometimes civilians who are supporting very important work on the British base.

This means that these people will be sitting down to eat Christmas lunch with the UK Armed Forces, and it would seem unfair, in fact churlish, if we discriminated and say they are not entitled to a box while giving a box to everyone else at the table. We ask recipients of the box to send us photographs.

Operation Christmas Box needs more sponsors!

Sponsors will enable this very welcome gift to continue to be delivered to our Servicemen and Servicewomen year after year. The charity welcomes your support so please make a donation.

Please note that unfortunately the charity is unable to send boxes on behalf of other people.