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It’s that time of year. Time to pack those shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. If you are not familiar with OCC, let me take this opportunity to tell you about it. OCC is a gift ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. You pack a shoebox with small toys and toiletries to be delivered to children around the world, in desperate situations. We’ve been involved with OCC for several years and it has become a tradition that Ben looks forward to every year.
Collection week for 2023 is Nov. 13-20, so you’ll want to hurry and get your shoeboxes ready to drop off. To find a collection center near you, click here.
Ben and I put together our shoebox today and will drop it off at a local church tomorrow. Here’s a list of all the little treasures Ben chose for our shoebox this year.
(please note, I have updated this post in 2017 with more current information)
Toothbrushes (we always send extras for friends or siblings)
Toothpaste (no longer allowed)
First Aid Kit
Washcloths
Socks
Soap
Small toys — mini Slinky, Nerf football, stuffed animal
Stickers
Coloring book
Crayons
Lollipops (no longer allowed)
Toothpaste (no longer allowed)
First Aid Kit
Washcloths
Socks
Soap
Small toys — mini Slinky, Nerf football, stuffed animal
Stickers
Coloring book
Crayons
Lollipops (no longer allowed)
It’s hard to imagine that we would be able to fit everything into that shoebox, but we did! We had to trim a few of the packages, and even take some things out of the package, but we got everything snugly fitted. Most everything was purchased at our local Dollar Tree, so the total cost including the box (we always send a plastic shoebox for durability) was about $15. OCC asks for a small donation to cover the shipping, so if you can, include a check for $9 to help cover those costs. Be sure to include your box label indicating the age range and gender of your target child (usually available at the drop off site). If you pay the small fee and print the label from here, you can even track your box to see which country receives it.
You’ll find ideas for what to pack in your shoeboxes on the OCC website. Or here is a quick list for your convenience:
Ideas for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox (download PDF list of Gift Suggestions here)
Flip-flops
Sunglasses
Socks
Brush and Comb
Washcloth
Bar of Soap
Toothbrush
Nail Clippers
School Supplies (small notebook, solar calculator, pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, ruler)
Watercolors
Playdoh
Stickers
Tape Measure
Magnifying Glass
Balloons
Whistle
Small Ball or Other Toys
Jump Rope
Small Stuffed Animal
Deflated soccer ball with pump
Bandaids
Hair accessories (bows, barrettes, pony tail bands)
Underwear, T-shirt
Personal Letter
Items Not Allowed in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox
Candies
Seeds
Nuts
Other Foods
Lotions
Pastes (including toothpaste)
Liquids of Any Kind
Military or War Toys, Guns, or Knives
Medications or Vitamins
Anything made of Glass or Breakable
Aerosol Cans
A Few More Tips for Packing A Christmas Shoebox
- If you can, buy a plastic shoebox. The durability will enable your child to repurpose it. If you do use a cardboard box, shoebox, decorate it by wrapping the box and lid separately with colorful Christmas wrap
- Choose an age range and gender focus for your box. The age ranges suggested are 2-4, 4-9, or 10-14. Buy for either a boy or girl, but not both unless you are putting together more than one box
- Involve your children in choosing the items and packing the boxes. Ben and I have been doing this together since he was 2. It’s a great tradition with lots of wonderful memories for us
- Choose a super fun item for the box’s focus to create excitement when it’s opened — a little larger stuffed animal or other toy is a great idea
- Do include a letter (and maybe even a photo of your family) for an extra personal touch. One year, our family received a thank you letter and photo of the child who received our shoebox. That’s only happened once in about 15 years, but it can happen
- Pray diligently for the child who will receive your box
- Include a check for $10 to help cover shipping
Boxes for Katje
To go along with filling our shoebox, we always read the book, Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming. This delightful book is set in post-WWII Holland. Katje is a little girl whose city has been devastated by the war. Deprived of food and clothing, one day Katje receives a box and a letter from a little girl, Rosie, from Indiana. This begins a steady flow of bigger and bigger boxes delivered to Katje, as Rosie’s town becomes aware of Katje’s great need, and that of her community. This book is a perfect go-along for the Operation Christmas Child Ministry. And if you’d like to do a unit study around the book, you’ll find one at Homeschool Share. As, always, the unit studies at HSS are FREE! There are even FREE lapbooking components to go along.
Photo Credit: Samaritan’s Purse
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