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You are here: Home / Family / Packing Christmas Shoeboxes

By Kristen 4 Comments

Packing Christmas Shoeboxes

Are you interested in participating in Operation Christmas Child and want to know how to pack your boxes inexpensively?  We also love collecting and setting up a Jingle Bell Book Shop.  Both allow us to give back.  The only catch?  Everything needs to be ready to be mailed in mid-November.  Read on to learn how we like to pack our Christmas shoeboxes.

Christmas Shoe boxes for operation Christmas Child

I’m happy to share how we’re giving back through Operation Christmas Child, not to boast, but to encourage you to find a way to do something special with your kids too.  I’ve found that I cannot just talk to my kids about serving or being compassionate.  Forcing them into something doesn’t work.

My actions speak louder than my words.  

Serving together as a family and sharing past and present service projects we’ve done make the difference.  My kids still talk about the playground that Daddy “helped build”, Gramom volunteers at the local library, Grandad works with Special Olympics, I run a volunteer tutoring program.  We don’t have to teach them about giving, they are experiencing it through our daily lives.

Packing Our Christmas Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child:

Some people are fearful that they will have to spend too much of their own money to participate in service projects.  Amazingly enough, we were able to fill the majority of our Christmas shoeboxes by “shopping our house”.   I also try to collect items when I find them on sale.

Operation Christmas Child Ideas:

  • Hard Candy – Halloween remnants
  • School Supplies (notepads, scissors, crayons, pencils)- from back-to-school sales in August
  • Toys (balls, cars, games, stuffed animal, game, birthday party favors)
  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste – from our last visit to the dentist
  • Soap – from our excess of buying bulk
  • Mazes – we printed out the boy’s favorite mazes from here
  • Socks – purchased
  • Plastic Shoebox – already had, great for the children to reuse, click here.
*Note:  OCC now sells reinforced cardboard and plastic boxes.  Well worth it.  The shoebox is part of the gift, because someone can always find a way to use a sturdy box.
Total out of pocket expense:  $13 per box (for new socks and shipping donation)

How did we do this so inexpensively?

By collecting things we already had in our home.

When I first told my kids that they’d be sharing from their excess things, they pouted.  I wish I could say they were thrilled, but they weren’t.  I started making my stash and purchasing the socks.  Then we started to pack.  There was still room in the box….

What made the difference for my children?  Why did they give more?

We went on the Operation Christmas Child website.  There we watched Scotty McCreery pack his boxes and deliver them (click here) to the Dominican Republic.  I cried.  The boys started running through the house grabbing more things – balls, toothbrushes, small stuffed animals, and soap.  We filled the boxes to the brim!

Our  church is collecting the shoebox gifts this year.  We were informed that as much as the kids love the toys and candy, they really appreciate the socks (to keep them protected from disease) and school supplies.

Bonus:  We went to Chick-fil-a for lunch today and they had all of their Operation Christmas Child materials out.  Free boxes you could fill, as well as “All About Me” sheets.  The boys loved filling them out.  We do prefer to use the plastic shoeboxes, so the children can reuse them for something in the future.

We’re also tracking our Christmas shoeboxes.  We can’t wait to see where they end up!

Looking to see if you can participate in your area?  Click here. Every year there is a collection the third week in November.

Let our actions speak louder than our words.

How to Pack Operation Christmas Child Boxes inexpensively.

I’d love to know how you are giving back this holiday season.  It may be for a toy drive, Jingle Bell Book Shop, Scouting for Food, donations to natural disaster victims, or something local.  Let’s do give back!

—————
Kristen @ Busy Kids Happy Mom 
Kristen’s background is in elementary education, crafts and raising boys!  Busy kids are those engaged in fun, practical, and purposeful activities in their daily life.  
 
Follow Kristen on Facebook, Pinterest, and Busy Kids Happy Mom.
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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: Christmas

About Kristen

Kristen is an Elementary Reading Specialist. She is the owner / author behind Busy Kids Happy Mom, a site dedicated to fun, practical, and purposeful activities to do with your kids. Follow Kristen on Facebook, Pinterest, and subscribe for updates.

What People Are Saying

  1. Jackie Higgins says

    at 4:21 pm

    We just packed our box but I have to go get an all about me sheet. That sounds awesome! A chicken sandwich also sounds awesome right now…

    Reply
  2. Susan Case says

    at 7:28 pm

    This is great! Pinning it.

    Reply
  3. Amy says

    at 11:02 am

    This is great! My kids and I are filling a couple of boxes for the first time this year!

    Reply
  4. JDaniel4's Mom says

    at 1:14 pm

    We are tracking ours too. I love the items you placed in the boxes.

    Reply

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