For more than seventy years, a simple act of generosity has returned each Christmas season to the skies over Micronesia. What began in 1952 as a spontaneous gesture by U.S. Air Force airmen has become the Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian airlift mission—and for the past decade, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been grateful participants in that effort.
Operation Christmas Drop traces its origins to a moment when the crew of a B-29 Superfortress spotted residents waving from the remote atoll of Kapingamarangi, nearly 3,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. Moved by the scene and the spirit of the season, the airmen dropped a bundle of supplies by parachute. That single act sparked a tradition that continues today, bringing hope and practical assistance to isolated island communities across Micronesia.
270 boxes waiting to be decorated and filled for Operation Christmas Drop were set up in a hangar at Andersen Air Force Base.
This year, 270 carefully prepared boxes were delivered to 60 remote islands, each one filled with items chosen to meet daily needs—school supplies, food, fishing gear, hygiene items, toys, and other essentials—along with the unmistakable message that they are remembered.
Preparing the Boxes—and the Hearts
Long before the first C-130 aircraft takes flight, the work of Operation Christmas Drop begins on the ground. Months in advance, volunteers build sturdy collection boxes and gather donations from families, local businesses, and community organizations. In the week leading up to the drop, the pace intensifies as Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, civilians, and families come together to sort, pack, and prepare the boxes for flight.
Volunteers from the church, including four senior missionary couples, Barrigada Guam Stake President Nicerio, self-reliance and welfare manager Brett Child, and the Layton family—Grant, Taryn, and their children Rowan, Boden, and Dylan, gather to decorate and fill boxes at Andersen Air Force Base.
Church members participate both through organized volunteer efforts and individual family sponsorships. On Friday, December 5, 2025, four senior missionary couples joined Barrigada Guam Stake President Fredivic Nicerio, self-reliance and welfare manager Brett Child, and the **Layton family—Grant, Taryn, and their children Rowan, Boden, and Dylan—**to decorate and fill two of the four boxes sponsored by the Church.
Inside the hangar at Andersen Air Force Base, the atmosphere was festive and purposeful. Rows of plain boxes waited to be transformed into bright parcels of hope. Christmas music played, laughter echoed, and even the most reserved volunteers soon found themselves reaching for markers, stickers, and paint. As the morning unfolded, items flowed steadily into the boxes—fishing fins, school supplies, toys, food, soap, and much more.
President Nicerio reflected on the deeper meaning behind the effort.
“I hope that everyone feels the love that our Savior has for everyone, especially those on the remote islands,” he said. “These drops help them know they are loved from people afar. This Christmas Drop is a way of helping others, and that is what our Savior, Jesus Christ, wants us to do.”
The Layton Family takes time away from their decorating to pose for a picture during the Operation Christmas Drop event at Andersen Air Force Base.
Teaching Children the Meaning of Service
For many families, Operation Christmas Drop has become a tradition. Taryn Layton shared that this was her family’s second year participating. One of their favorite moments from the previous year came later, when they watched footage of the drops and tried to spot their own box descending by parachute.
“We loved seeing the faces of the people when the boxes were dropped,” she said.
Asked why they felt it was important enough for their children to miss school, Grant Layton explained:
“We love for our kids to gain an understanding of how people live on the islands and what their needs are. For them to know how important these supplies are to people’s lives is life-changing for them.”
The Egbert family works on their box decorations for the Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base.
The Egbert family has also made Operation Christmas Drop a yearly commitment, sponsoring their own family box for the past two years. As Sister Egbert and her six children added colorful decorations, she reflected on the lasting impact of hands-on service.
“I love providing opportunities for them to see hands-on service,” she said. “We had the opportunity to visit the island of Rota last January, and they met some of the recipients in person. It was fun for them to see it full circle. We hope this gives them a good foundation and example for giving service.”
Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Cambree, summed it up simply:
“It’s pretty cool to watch the people on the islands get the boxes. I’m glad they can get these boxes because I know they don’t have much, so I’m glad they have the opportunity to get these supplies.”
Elder and Sister Brooksby, humanitarian missionaries, show their box after completing their picture for Operation Christmas Drop.
Building Bridges Through Service
Behind the scenes, much of the coordination was handled by Elder and Sister Brooksby, senior humanitarian missionaries in the Micronesia Guam Mission. From paperwork to volunteer scheduling, their role was essential. Sister Brooksby estimated that around 35 Church volunteers participated in the two-day project.
When asked why involvement in efforts like Operation Christmas Drop matters, she pointed to the relationships that grow out of service.
“When we do projects like this, we build bridges and relationships that open doors for the gospel,” she said. “People recognize our name and see that we are doing good things, and then they are more receptive to listening. We are building friendships instead of being distant enemies.”
The back end of a C-130 begins to open up to drop boxes on the Micronesian Islands for the 2025 Operation Christmas Drop.
Santa’s Sleigh Takes Flight
After the decorating and loading days came the moment everyone waited for. For a full week, C-130 cargo planes—assigned festive flight numbers like “Santa 52”—took to the skies. With their rear doors open, the aircraft flew over remote islands in Yap, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Palau, and Chuuk, releasing boxes slowed by the rush of attached parachutes.
Below, islanders gathered along the shore, watching the sky and waiting eagerly for the moment the boxes touched down.
Parachutes open up to slow down the fall of the Operation Christmas Drop boxes being dropped to the Palaun island of Anguar on December 10th, 2025.
More Than a Drop—A Lasting Gift
The impact of Operation Christmas Drop often reaches far beyond the supplies inside each box. On the island of Yap, Daniel, a counselor in the Yap Branch Presidency, shared a memory from the previous year that he will never forget.
Although most of his family has moved to the United States, Daniel chose to remain on the island where he grew up. One December day, a friend invited him on a boat trip to the outer island of Fassari. They arrived the next morning—just in time to learn that Operation Christmas Drop would be arriving that afternoon.
“I had always seen things like that in a movie, but that was the first time I got to witness it in person,” Daniel said. “It was the first time I had seen a parachute in real life.”
From the ground excited islanders watch as the boxes leave the C-130 and the parachutes open up to drop the 2025 Operation Christmas Boxes to the islands.
Flags had been placed in the sand to mark the drop zone, but strong currents shifted one of the markers directly in front of the home where Daniel stood. The pilots hit their target perfectly. Daniel reached the box quickly, cut the cords, and lifted the parachute from the water to dry.
He later brought the parachute back to Yap’s main island, where he used it to create a shaded gathering place for friends and family—a space that is still used today. Even the parachute cords, valued for their strength and durability, are often repurposed for fishing and daily needs.
Friends, family, and church members gather under this parachute that came with the Operation Christmas drop box delivered to the islands of Yap in 2024.
For communities scattered across the Pacific, Operation Christmas Drop delivers more than supplies. It brings connection, joy, and quiet reminders that they are seen and remembered—hope delivered from the skies, one parachute at a time.
