Operation Christmas Child: no food or candy this year

If you're planning to pack a holiday shoebox for Samaritan's Purse, be sure to leave out any food or candy.

It's a new policy for the Christiancharity'sOperation Christmas Child campaign and it's due to border issues in some countries.

Spokesperson Frank King says in some cases, volunteers had to "go through every box and remove all food items from itfor it to get through customs and get to the children."

Some international offices of Samaritan's Purse haven't accepted candy in shoeboxes for years, and Canada is following suit, according to King.

More room

He's looking on the bright side of the new rule though.

"On the other hand the one thing we're very happy about is this leaves more room in the shoeboxes for school supplies, hygiene items, toys for kids.So we see an upside to this. There's more space for these other very valuable items."

King says candy or food items found in shoeboxes will be donated to local charities so it doesn't go to waste.