For those who did not pack a shoebox this Christmas season, there's an opportunity to pack boxes all year long.

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoeboxes make a ripple of a difference in the lives of children worldwide says Frank King, News Media Relations Manager for Samaritan's Purse. Which is why OCC has created a way to continue that impact all year long. 

Similar to online shopping you can now pack boxes online. If you visit www.packabox.ca, you grab a cart, you pick an age range and from there you're given a selection of items for that age group. Once your items are selected, you can pay, upload a photo and note that will be added to your shoebox.

"Last year, more than 11,000 shoeboxes were packed online by Canadians."

In January and February, OCC volunteers will pack the shoeboxes made online. "We try as much as possible to emulate the shoebox packing experience by adding the notes and photos," King says.

"We started five years ago, growing steadily ever since. Last year, more than 11,000 shoeboxes were packed online by Canadians," King says. He and his wife took part in online packing this year, "

This is a simple solution for when the weather is harsh, or schedules don't allow time to pack. "It's so easy," King says. 

King says this is more than just a shoebox of items this is sometimes the determining factor of if a child will be able to attend school. Most children in the receiving countries of OCC are required to bring their own school suppplies, and when they receive these items in the boxes it changes their lives.

"Kids need a higher standard of living and this helps the whole community and widens the horizon for opportunities," King says.

Packing boxes online can be done at anytime of the year. King says, "if it's a hot august day and you suddenly have a hankering to pack a box, you can do it online!"