Sharing filler ideas! What can we donate to the OCC Processing Center? 2022

[@eastcoaststories]

One, I'm so jealous you are done packing! lol Still currently working on shoeboxes. Two, love this video. I agree with you, marking the filler boxes as FILLER is very important! Because it can be totally be mixed in with the shoeboxes. I love the filler with the clothing items with an accompanying toy. Using the organza bag is extra special. Even the socks! Great idea! I do love the gender neutral pencil packs, but we know, the processing center is SO fast pace! The coloring books with the crayons in the baggie are awesome! The Sponge Bob tin box is perfect! It is a shoebox within a shoebox. Oh wow, I would love to have those plastic black and blue containers come as filler at my table! So clever to add the Barbie bed with the Barbie. I like that you used the organza bags to include their accessories. The DT babies with the blankies are my favorite. They are gorgeous! The girl bear is precious. The LEGO set is perfect! Your bead kit is so pretty. Love the hygiene kits. Thanks for sharing your filler ideas, Denise! They are much needed at the processing center! I hope to see your filler at my table!

[@drogers]

I hope to see YOU at my table! Lol.. we both know how badly this is needed. I hope to inspire others to pack up anything and everything to send in!!! Did you get your shifts at the PC yet? TFW friend! ❤

[@judyfrazier2462]

I'm sending a lot of filler this year, Denise. My husband calls it the "TWIN TOWERS OF FILLER" !!! We have to give stuff up. I know God will provide us more. The time is now !!

[@drogers]

Oh that’s funny… twin towers of filler! 😂 You should see my house…. Or not see! My husband and kids just laugh and go along with me. They know I’m OCC crazy! Yep, let it go!!!! God will provide more!!!!

[@valswain]

The baby doll blankets are perfect items to add to the DT baby dolls dressed in those cute little dresses. You inspired me tonight to pack a few school supplies packs. 😊🖍️📏✏️🖊️

[@drogers]

Well you inspired me to pack up the baby dolls! Thank you sooo much for the cute clothes! The dolls make a great little wow for a sad box! They look so stink in’ cute! ❤

[@valswain]

@@drogers when you cut the dollar tree baby blankets in fours, do you then stitch the edges? I want to get some but I don’t know how to use my sewing machine 😂😂 when you said the edges don’t fray, my ears perked up.

[@drogers]

@@valswain no sewing required!!!! Lol

[@valswain]

@@drogers that’s my kind of project!

[@dawnepayne1314]

Denise, I love your filler videos! So many cute ideas! I would not have known how much fillers are needed had it not been for our community educating me last year! I love the bead kits! I have a lot of those containers because I decided not to send soap this year! I will be making bead kits for filler now! I bought over 20 of the Raya dolls when they were $1. Hubby thought I went crazy when I piled them all in my cart until I told him the extras were for filler 🤣🤣🤣! I love sending flip flops and shirts as filler! I stock up on them when they go on clearance at Old Navy and Children’s Place! I find them a lot cheaper online for some reason! Thanks again for all the great ideas! 💜💜💜

[@drogers]

Oh I should have mentioned flip flops!!!! Darn! Yes, they are such a great item to donate! I didn’t use my DT containers much either this year… so yep… they make great bead kits! Small Lego kits too! Oh I got a lot of the Raya dolls too! I always stock up for filler if I hit a big sale that’s too good to pass up! You should see my garage filled with the $2 backpacks! Lol. I’ll be donating those too! Thanks Dawne! ❤

[@tracystoaks6573]

Denise, so many great suggestions and examples. So clever to put the Barbie in the bottom of that bed. Great video, very helpful, it's my first time to send filler.

[@drogers]

Thanks Tracy! I love sending filler...think of how many children you are blessing by sending in filler!

[@tracystoaks6573]

@@drogers thanks for the encouragement.

[@occland8864]

Great filler items. I recognize that blue and white striped shirt. 😉 Every time I saw SpongeBob, I said, “I need that!” 😂 You did a little bit of everything to help bless boys and girls around the world. 🌎

[@drogers]

Thanks Carol! I got so many of those shirts for $1!!!! I packed a few and sent some for filler last year! I still had more, wasn’t packing them… so off they go! You know how badly filler is needed. I think the Baltimore PC has even less! I pray before each shift I work , “Dear God, Please let there be good filler today!” It makes or breaks me sometimes! TFW friend! ❤

[@teeonsavings172]

This video was very informative. You are so organized. You have so many great filler items.

[@drogers]

Thanks Tee!

[@fedwards2023]

Hi Denise, Great filler ideas. I love the use of the organza bags and plastic containers. I used containers to send fun shaped chalk and sewing kits. I also haved packed "Empty Box Filler Packs." For example, a large doll with a matching outfit for the child and colouring or school supplies. I have stapled small packs of crayons to the cover of colouring books - I rather not rely on hope that items will stay together or colouring books will be partnered with crayons / colouring pencils. Off to the P.C. on Monday-it will be great to know more about the needs of AU's receiving countries. TFS!

[@drogers]

Oh that’s so exciting that you’re heading to the PC! Please share how it goes!!! Your filler sounds wonderful! Empty box filler packs are a huge gift for the processors! They will be so happy to get yours! I really enjoy putting packs together for filler. I like getting creative and coming up with new ideas each year! I know how badly it is needed. Have fun on Monday! I’ll pray for you! ❤

[@fedwards2023]

@@drogers Hi Denise. Please check your email for an update on today's PC shift.

[@SharonLaBolle]

😂❤ Great program. My thrift store often has brand new T-shirts donated from dept. stores. You have given me some wonderful ideas

[@drogers]

Wonderful! Thrift stores often have brand new items for a great price! How lucky you found t-shirts!!!!

[@NikiChicote]

your fillers are so nice! thanks for the mention, those dollar tree babies are my faves, i'm on the hunt for them again so we can stock up for next year... thanks Denise! 💖💖💖

[@drogers]

Thanks Niki! You inspired me and once Val sent me the cute clothes I was on it!!!! Such cute filler!

[@Lunafalls]

This was a really helpful and inspiring video -- THANK YOU! If I make filler packs, I was thinking I would make a really prominent label with the age and gender info on each -- a larger label, and written in Sharpie -- to help the processing workers see and grab what they need for a particular box very quickly. It looks fun to help in a processing center, but I know I'd be frustrated by the need to work quickly, LOL.

[@drogers]

Labeling it in Large lettering is perfect! Sharpies are great for that! It is a blessing to work at the PC but it is very fast and sometimes too fast for my brain! lol. TFW and TF packing filler! What a blessing it will be!

[@marieterry625]

I absolutely loved watching this video and appreciate you sharing your creative ideas. Hope to see more of these in the near future!

[@drogers]

Thank you! Will do! I hope to do another one this summer.

[@charlottesshoeboxes3230]

So wonderful. Lots of ideas.

[@drogers]

Thanks Charlotte!

[@denise5457]

Love it. Hope lots of people send more filler. I know I am! 😃

[@drogers]

Thanks Denise! It will be a blessing to your PC and those boxes that receive it!

[@BeagleBellow]

Great video, after I watched OCC boxes get passed thru half full during the Speed challenges, they do at the processing centers. I stopped filling boxes and now only send in filler item. While I was at the PC I was in charge of delivering filler items and every station would beg me for unique fillers.📦

[@drogers]

Oh it is sooooo needed! Thank you! They were even tighter this year with it telling us only fill boxes with filler if you remove something inappropriate but we had many half full boxes.

[@heather3044]

What is a speed challenge? We have been to the Dallas PC, but didn't have such a thing. So sad boxes are going through half empty. We are encouraged to send more filler.

[@dalehighnote6958]

Beautiful pencil packs. Please share video from Atlanta PC. My items go there as well. Thank you for sharing with our community.

[@drogers]

Thanks Marlene! I go to Baltimore as I live in Maryland. Hopefully there are some out there that will share their Atlanta experience! Thank you as always for watching my friend!

[@bluffcitybounty2122]

Always enjoy your filler videos. Great job once again!

[@drogers]

Thank you Morgan!

[@christyrobertson5635]

Thanks for sharing all the filler ideas. They are so needed. I always come back from the PC renewed and ready to pack more and send more filler. I know you go to the Baltimore PC but I’ll be at the Dallas PC as a team coach this year for a week so I hope to see some people I’ve met online!

[@drogers]

Oh I wish we could meet at the PC! Very exciting that you will be a team coach! I’ll pray for you! Emily from Love in a Shoebox will be a Boone for a week! I would love to go down there to be with her but I’m still working full time! I retire in December so next years goals! Have fun and get renewed!!!! I do too!

[@christyrobertson5635]

Congratulations on the impending retirement! I retired from teaching for 30 years in 2020. In really excited and definitely appreciate your prayers !

[@dalehighnote6958]

Thank you for sharing some wonderful ideas. The Barbie with the bed us a fun gift. I send a lot of fillers, but you demonstrated several ideas that I had not considered. I appreciate thus video.

[@drogers]

Thanks Marlene! Thank you sooooo much for sending fillers! It is so needed and such a blessing for those empty boxes. ❤️

[@batmansboxes4936]

You always make the best filler bags and pencil packs!! I tried, I really really tried but my patience ran out. I do however have a giant box full of filler I’m sending in again this year! Thanks for sharing, I’m sure all fillers are put to good use!

[@drogers]

Giant boxes full of filler are awesome!!!! Woo hoo! They have people to sort through it all! Every bit counts! Thanks Jeannie! (Btw… Pencil packing is very therapeutic! 😂)

[@GraceMurdick]

Really nice filler items. Good job.

[@drogers]

Thank you Grace!

[@byrdfeed9071]

Lots of great ideas, Denise. You’ve inspired me to let go of some of my coloring book stash to send as filler. I don’t have those big zippered bags, but I will think of something so I can add crayons. I am also sending a lot of those Spark Imagine stuffed animals as filler. Who am I kidding? All of them! I didn’t pack one TY and don’t have plans to pack any next year either 😂. Thanks for all the great filler ideas ❤

[@drogers]

Thanks Trish! oh my goodness, I have sooo many coloring books. I just can't help myself when I see a cute one! LOL. So I giving them up! Last year I just packaged tape a small set of crayons to each book. Yes, I didn't pack the Spark stuffies either but boy were they a good deal! We just can't pass those up, can we? Especially now since they are far and few between! TFW my friend!

[@kellybenson8626]

Great ideas! Thanks for them, some ideas I hadn't considered for things I bought without clear plans for them. I do wish OCC publicized this fillers idea. I think there are lots of people who would love to help contribute but don't even know the opportunity exists.

[@drogers]

Thanks Kelly. I wish they would reach out and publicize it also. If you work in the PC, you see how badly it is needed in order to send full appropriate age boxes. Getting the word out is important. Thank you so much for watching and sending filler this year!

[@sarahschreffler5407]

I am a little concerned our drop off is going to be upset with the amount of filler I am sending. THey already pretty much fill their rented truck with the shoeboxes they get and need to send a separate truck with the extras. So where is this filler going to go? But I know God has said to send it so I'm obeying.

[@kellybenson8626]

@@drogers There's nothing at all on their website, I wouldn't have ever known without KZbin videos. Last year I found your pencil pack video so sent pencil packs (and I think my leftover soap and toothbrushes). But this year I wanted to do more. Glad there's been a push for fillers on KZbin but even a bit of a post on OCC's website would go a long way.

[@drogers]

I 100% agree!!!!

[@melodymills5432]

wonderfully glorious ideas

[@drogers]

Thanks Melody! I hope it gives inspiration for viewers to pack! 🥰

[@kimmclean9933]

Thanks for sharing! This gave me some ideas! My first year of sending fillers!

[@drogers]

Thanks Kim and thanks so much for sending filler!

[@celtichound9889]

Donating filler items is a great idea from people who might not have the budget for a full shoebox.

[@drogers]

Absolutely!!!! And it is sooo needed!

[@heather3044]

Thanks for the great filler ideas! I noticed the slap bracelet with the ruler on the back. Would you happen to remember where you got it? The 4-packs from Walmart have rulers on the backs, but I am looking for them in bulk.

[@angieclifton9161]

Such a great video! I have loved watching your filler videos... they inspired me to make the rolled paper filler and and some mini pencil packs attached to paper booklets that we made from our paper stash. Are you in the shoebox stashbusters group? Just curious bc I had a picture of the dollar tree dolls packaged like that as well.... though I love how they look with the little clothes on! Do you know where Val got the clothes?

[@drogers]

Thanks Angie! I’m so glad you enjoy the filler videos. I hope it inspires people to be thinking about sending some! I don’t think I am in that fb group. Should I join? I’m in a few others though! Val got the clothes from Naeir. It’s a discount site for gifts in kind. Aren’t they adorable? Thanks so much for watching and donating filler!❤

[@maritzacopping3309]

Very nice fillers and presentation, Denise. Such a shame so many boxes need help.

[@drogers]

@@maritzacopping3309 thanks Maritza! It’s really shocking sometimes. It’s something I wish OCC would address. Many come from packing parties. So I feel like education is the key. TFW!

[@maritzacopping3309]

@@drogers So glad you said that bc I’ve thought the same thing many many times.

[@fedwards2023]

LOL! Shoebox Stashers Group. I didn't know there was such a thing! But, I have to admit, I am a stasher. I have spent the last few weeks sorting my supplies with my living room full of 📦📦📦📦📦

[@sarahschreffler5407]

I have nearly a box full of looseleaf paper (Bought several 500-page packs of paper to make into "paper rolls" of paper then realized that it is too large of a job for me). can I send it like that and they will process it at the center into filler? The only other thing I can think of is to get some of those 2-pocket folders and put the paper in the pockets.

[@drogers]

Yes Sarah! Sending the packs of paper is an amazing idea! I should have mentioned it! They will send it to a station to be divided up! Soooooo many boxes have no paper! Thank you for picking it up with filler in mind!

[@Nancy-pj7xt]

Wonderful video and I’m so glad you made it for everyone. I have a lot of filler I’m sending from toys, new clothing, school supplies and hygiene kits. I do have a quick question. What size organza bag did you use for the dolls w/ blankets because I want to get some but not sure on size. Thanks Denise ❤

[@drogers]

Hi Nancy! The link to the organza bags is in my description. They are 6.6x9. Kind of an odd measurement but that’s it! Your filler sounds awesome! Thank you so much for sending it! You will definitely bless many children! ❤

[@dawngarrison46]

Love your filler ideas! Can you tell me what age group is most needed for shoeboxes?

[@drogers]

Hey Dawn! For filler, my opinion is that we need more for the older boys. For shoeboxes, it seems to slightly vary year to year. I think the older Boys and Girls need it the most closely followed by 2-4’s. There are sooooo many 5-9’s. Hope that helps! ❤

[@sharonshepherd8792]

Can you tell me where you got the clothes for the little DT baby doll?

[@drogers]

Hi Sharon. The clothes came from a company called Naeir. They connect gifts in kind to non profits. You must be a member and mostly support teachers. My friend sent them to me. My daughter has since joined since she is a teacher. All purchases cannot be used for profit. Hope that helps! Those little dolls are adorable as is with a little blanket wrapping them up. Thanks for watching! I hope this helps!

[@lauras4900]

Where did you say you get the doll clothes for the dollar tree baby doll?

[@drogers]

The clothes came from a company called Naeir. They connect gifts in kind to non profits. You must be a member and mostly support teachers. My friend sent them to me. My daughter has since joined since she is a teacher. All purchases cannot be used for profit. Hope that helps! Those little dolls are adorable as is with a little blanket wrapping them up. Thanks for watching! I hope this helps!

[@lauras4900]

Thank you. I’ll check into it because my husband is a teacher so maybe he can join!!

[@sarahrice2667]

Do u have the link for the doll clothes?

[@drogers]

www.naeir.org