Operation Christmas Child - Packing a Shoebox Gift for a Boy

[@jimherman1755]

I realize that this is a 2 year old video but I must comment for those who might stumble onto this like I did. I am a year round Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child volunteer with my husband, Jim (into whose ID I happen to be logged). Some comments need to be corrected and some items placed into the video's shoe boxes need to be addressed. Caitlin Johnson - you didn't need to be insulting and call her dumb for not including toothpaste. It is not allowed. These children have never seen toothpaste before and think it's candy and get sick. Jim & I met a shoebox recipient who told us they were used to rubbing a twig on a rock to soften it up enough to scrape their teeth....a toothbrush is better. Brie Shann, you are correct in stating that toothpaste is not allowed. As to all you brilliant commenters, especially Maiahlynn, PLEASE take all the excess packaging OFF!!! These boxes are sent to third world countries without sanitation departments to pick up all the trash that tends to be a result of these boxes. We don't want to leave a mess for the distribution centers that allow us to hand out the boxes. It just makes sense...more room in box, less trash in the countryside. We also obtain the 'grocery store type tote bags' from the Dollar Tree instead of a backpack, takes less room. Thanks and God bless every shoebox sender. Deb - on her husband's computer (BTW 2019 OCC came out with a larger cardboard box to assemble)

[@marcyclark5696]

you can remove the original packaging from the gifts in the shoebox and that will help save room! great box!

[@maiahlynn]

tip: take stuff out of packing to make more room & less trash for them. toothpaste & soap in all boxes would be great. decorate inside the lid. you could have put the cars inside the cups

[@markjames8368]

Awwww!!! I really do hope that whatever boy gets that shoebox loves it

[@patsilver2881]

Great boxes. Just a suggestion, if you take things out of the packages, you fit everything a bit better. I had to learn to do it myself.

[@panthergal7399]

Girl, take that stuff out of the packages..lol

[@princessstephxo]

I would recommend taking the things out of the packaging, it'll allow you to add more things or they can at least fit better :) you can put them in ziploc baggies if you don't want the items to be loose , but great items !! Great tip about the ivory soap, I'll keep that in mind for next year :)

[@jett11west]

Great boxes. You really thought about the child and what they'd like. I love the backpack idea.

[@oliviaelliott8867]

I never thought of putting backpacks in :) I brought some for my boxes this year and will be putting elastic bands around them

[@Kate-qn1eu]

Your boxes are amazing

[@CTVM2]

Thanks for the video. Where did you get the box for the 10-14 year old?? We are having trouble fitting things into the standard OCC box. Trying to decide whether to fit what we have in a different box or go with the OCC "go boxes." It seems using the OCC boxes allows for more children to be reached, but we had so much fun and it's a tight tight squeeze using them. Thanks for the input. 😊

[@juliewillard6932]

My frustration is the packaging especially on the card, rich, sharpener and toy phone. Those things would easily slit into the gaps and make more room in the box and prevent a pile of empty packaging building up next to the box which would likely just be thrown on the ground. Please in future remove all packaging, especially hard bulky plastic packaging.

[@TennesseeYankee]

Nice boxes, but I'd add additional batteries. :)

[@susanslick71]

hi where's your video for this year? We'd love to see it!

[@oliviaelliott8867]

The stuffed animal is cute :)

[@oliviaelliott8867]

Things like the crayons can be taken out the box and put in a ziplock bag. I think he will like the toy phone :)

[@jett11west]

The box makes it more like a gift and easier to store.

[@corrinjade3973]

great boxes!

[@budderkupp1282]

Great box & variety but I'm a little confused. Some things appeared to be for a 10 to 14 yr old..while other things appeared to be for a 2 to 4 yr old.

[@lrrandall9596]

Please a few more pencils for school,they need them so much,you can take things out of package and have moe room,thank

[@rodhae5521]

I am from india how can I get gift box.kindly please reply.

[@brieshann7471]

I thought you couldn't send toothpaste?

[@lucyy6564]

Brie Shann you can and its a great idea

[@pipntuck]

in some countries you can't. In Canada you can't & in The United States you can't now either

[@princessstephxo]

pipntuck in the USA, this year you can, next year you cant

[@caitlinjohnson3346]

For the first box, he gave the boy a toothbrush pack. HOW Is HE GONNA BRUSH HIS TEETH WITHOUT TOOTHPASTE now there's dumb and there's dumb

[@beachgirl445]

theyre actually not supposed to send any toothpaste due to restrictions in other countries.

[@jimherman1755]

You didn't need to be insulting. They have disallowed toothpaste for some time. These children don't know what it is and would eat it like candy. I personally met a recipient of a box that told us they rub the tips of twigs on rocks to enable the twig to help them scrape their teeth clean...a toothbrush is better!!