Operation Christmas Child | Tips, Tricks, What to Pack

[@debifritzsd]

You are giving an amazing gift to each child that receives your boxes. I’m a project leader in South Dakota. I too have a heart for this ministry. Your boxes are a great combination of practical and fun. So many can’t go to school without the school supplies. I’ve read of a girl in an orphanage who had to share a toothbrush and was so grateful to get her own. The toys are of course what every kid should have. 😀 my thoughts to you that I hope would only help… next year soap is not going to be allowed in US boxes. A lot of the places boxes go don’t have garbage disposal so excess packaging is hard (I felt like yours wasn’t excess, and for good reasons). You said in general where you like to order from but would appreciate knowing where each item (like the thermal blankets) came from. Thank you for being a part of this awesome ministry for kids everywhere.

[@deborahcarr2177]

I love your boxes and I know the child that receives your box will be thrilled! My Wall Mart has a clearance isle and I got full size notebooks for 10 cents a piece. I also leave the toothbrush in the wrapper. You go girl you rock!! God bless and keep you!

[@LKJagoda]

You make beautiful boxes! Great job!! :) What a blessing for the children!

[@lollyd1276]

I too love this ministry and I am grateful for everyone who chooses to pack a single box or many. I thought I would share one thing I have learned in the last several years of packing and sending shoebox gifts. I never heard back from any of my recipients until I began adding my email and facebook contact info to my note. (If you do this, always check spam folders for both sites.) Since I live in a very rural area of the US and my internet options are so poor, it didn't occur to me that the destinations these boxes reach might have online access. But many do through phones or church offices. I started getting about 10 replies a year since doing this. And one missionary pointed out that mail is incredibly expensive going intercontinental, so it made sense to me. Hope this helps, if not this year maybe next. God bless you for all the gospel opportunities possible through your boxes. ❤

[@madaielizabethgomez7612]

I found a person with my same passion!! I love Occ !! This year I’m making 40 boxes !!❤❤

[@pagejedi]

That’s amazing!! Thank you for doing that ❤️

[@dalehighnote6958]

Just fyi… Samaritans will ship you labels for free. You can activate the labels all at once and then use over a period of time. Thanks for sharing and encouraging others.

[@sazzy5205]

Wow! So many wonderful boxes. What a blessing. Just a heads up, I heard that next year they're not going to allow soap.

[@GenXGirl77]

Thank you, I always send a bar of soap so this is good to know for next year!

[@lizardwanderer]

Where did you find the sanitary pads and case? That's something I never thought about for the older girl age group!

[@pagejedi]

I found them on Temu :)

[@loriirvin4455]

I am just beginning to learn about this and very interested in doing a lot of boxes. I saw that there is an additional $10 donation for each box? That, of course would also determine how many boxes could be done.

[@pagejedi]

They do ask that you cover the shipping which is usually $10, you can also speak to your local church about it and see if they are taking donations for the shipping

[@mariacontreras4368]

Crees que un niño o niña de 5 a 9años usa calculadora? Creo que hasta los 12 al menos no la necesitan. Tal vez en su lugar podrías poner una armónica, un juego de cartas o de cuentas para ensartar. ¿Qué opinas?

[@trinab9069]

where did you find the hand crank flashlights?

[@pagejedi]

I got them from Amazon!

[@debifritzsd]

I get mine from WOW supplies and they are excellent quality for .75 each. They also have great soccer balls and hacky sacks. Love them. 😊

[@mariacontreras4368]

Hola! Creo que para la edad de 2 a 4 hay cosas que no son tan apropiadas, xq son para niños más mayores(como la linterna, por ejemplo, o los cuadernos) A los niños/niñas tan pequeños les gustan mucho los colores vivos y alegres. Podrías poner vasos coloridos en vez de marrón. Hay muchos objetos demasiado pequeños que pueden ser peligrosos en esas edades. También te comento que existen cepillos de dientes específicos para esas edades. Quizás sería mejor poner un peluche o muñeco más grande y de mejor calidad, algo musical, un puzzle o juego apilable. Son solo ideas. Una cajita con peine, cepillo de dientes, una pequeña mochila con dibujos, un puzzle, un peluche colorido, una botella de agua pequeña colorida, material escolar apropiado para esa edad(bloc de dibujo con motivos grandes, ceras o lápices gruesos, pegatinas removibles) y un camión, muñeca e instrumento musical (como un xilofono por ejemplo)Los juguetes de madera son fantásticos para esas edades. Entiendo que las cajas son muy pequeñas,pero tal vez los artículos podrían ser más infantiles, aunque fueran menos cantidad. Es solo mi opinión, solo por si te sirve.

[@agusguti]

Cuando no tenes luz, una linterna es una necesidad basica a los 2 años. Un cepillo de dientes no lo van a usar 1 mes, lo van a usar quizas años... los colores son importantes cuando el niño o niña tiene diversidad de objetos para elegir. En este caso, no tienen nada, lo que sea que reciban es un mega estímulo que va a ayudar en su desarrollo. Las viviendas no son grandes y con lugares para guardar juguetes, esos tamaños son los que el niño va a mantener consigo y a poder guardar sin interferir en la familia, todo se comparte. Esa caja es oro y la van a tener por años. Los utiles escolares son lo que utilizan, necesidad basica. Por supuesto que hay cosas hermosas coloridas y divertidas. Pero para un niño que vive en la pobreza esto es lo que lo va a hacer feliz esta navidad y durante todo el año, ylo van a recordar por siemñre (dicho por personas que recibieron este tipo de regalos). 😊