Not that paying full price is altogether bad, but who wants to pay full price when you can…not pay full price?? That’s why I’m talking about next Christmas already. Look at me! I’m worse than department stores. They put their Christmas stuff out before Halloween. Well, I win. I’m putting this out there before Valentine’s Day. Hurry, folks! Only 352 days until Christmas. There’s not a moment to lose!
Figured I’d get my Christmas cards out early too.
Here’s why I’m talking about Christmas at the beginning of January:
This is the time to buy wrapping paper for next to nothing and get ready for next year’s Operation Christmas Child. It all goes back to that why pay full price thing. And I’m totally kidding about getting my Christmas cards out early. I don’t even get Christmas cards out at all because I’m that on top of my to-do list.
What is Operation Christmas Child?
We finally did it! After hearing about Operation Christmas Child for several years, our family jumped on board this year to participate, thanks to a friend in our homeschool group who planned our Christmas party around this service opportunity.
Have you heard of it? Does your family take part in the joy of giving this way? Through Operation Christmas Child, children in impoverished countries are provided with a gift at Christmastime. These gifts are supplied by people like you and me. Typically it is the only gift these children receive, so of course the kids are overjoyed to receive their box. Best yet, Samaritan’s Purse places a little book (written in the child’s language) inside each box titled “The Greatest Gift” and they follow up with the kids too. These boxes are not just fun. They provide an outreach opportunity for the local churches!
Preparing For Next Year’s Operation Christmas Child
I’m not affiliated with OCC in any way. I just love the program and found this to be a great way to serve with our kids. I thought I’d put a bug in your ear about it just in case this is a way you and your family can serve, too. But first – a bug in your ear? What a terrible cliche. I wrote that without thinking. Matt got a bug in his ear once (a moth. thanks for asking.) and had to go to the ER to have it removed. There’s nothing cute or fun about that, so why do we say, “let me put a bug in your ear”?? In other words, let me do something disgusting and memorable, incredibly annoying and slightly painful so that you can’t move on with life until you do this thing.
So, Operation Christmas Child. It’s just a suggestion. Do with this what you will. I hate bugs.
I mostly wrote this post to say:
Start looking now for items to fill Operation Christmas Child boxes.
It is so much fun to fill the shoe-boxes! Just think of the joy a child has when they open their box containing bright toys and games! We paid full price for the contents of our boxes this past November because I didn’t plan ahead to participate. Now that I know the kinds of items that work well I’m looking for sales, walking the clearance aisles, and grabbing goodies I know will work. Come time to fill boxes again, I’ll just have to grab bags out of my closet. How fun!
Read here about the items that are best for filling shoe-boxes. Liquids are a no-go. I’ve already picked up small coloring books, toy cars, recorders, rings, stamps, and a little tea set. I’m watching for sales on socks and mittens. Come August, I’ll grab school supplies on sale. It’s just good to have this in the back of my mind when I come across a sale so I can pick up beneficial items at a good price.
Obviously, this idea works well for purchasing items to bless those in your own community, any time of the year. Consider the people you want to serve, and keep them in mind when you come across sales.
I want to hear if your family participates in Operation Christmas Child!
And don’t forget. Christmas will be here before you know it.
I’m always here to help.
Su Ann says
Yes, we participate through our church. I love the idea of getting items for it now. Thanks for the idea.
Ivy Mae says
This is the best idea I’ve come across on the internet in weeks! A close second to stir and pour bread. :)
We’ve done OCC boxes before, and it is always a huge push to get it done when the collection happens in November, especially since we live in the country and have to plan our trips to the “city.” But it really is so great. My six year old son eagerly awaits the notification about where our boxes went.
Suz says
We love doing OCC shoeboxes – and I laughed when I saw your post, since I came home from Target yesterday with a bag for my “OCC box” and my husband thought this was slightly crazy (but – come on, 90% off!). Anyway I do shop year round, so we always have a box or two of items that we can share at OCC parties and use to fill our boxes. They do such great work getting these boxes out and sharing the gospel with kids; love it!
Kimberly says
We do, too!! And it’s hard to know who gets more excited about our box every year–our children or me. :-)
sandra says
I read a really interesting article awhile back written by missionaries on the best and worst things to donate in these boxes. It pointed out things we in the West don’t think about in terms of other cultures that made a lot of sense and really changed the way I view overseas donations! We oftentimes forget that life for many people is not the way it is here.
For instance, the best toys to donate are simple toys that all ages can play with (and everyone knows what they are), like soccer balls, simple dolls, and medium size cars and trucks. While we might think stuffed animals are cute, different animals represent different things (oftentimes negative) in different places around the world.
Pens, pencils and erasers are great things to include, but stickers are not (kids don’t always have a place to put them). Some of the best gifts to include are things that kids can actually use, like simple hygiene items – soaps, soap holders, toothbrushes and holders. Flashlights are good, as they don’t have electricity everywhere. Also, plain clothing (without any words or pictures, etc.) are best, and avoid winter clothing unless you know your donation is going to a cold-weather climate.
Jenn says
Thanks for mentioning this! It’ll also help make this more “fun” and not add to stress at end of year! Clicked over and found you can also donate the opportunity to a family or friend. They get an email for the opportunity to build a shoebox online as a gift from you. Giving the gift of giving!
Lorinda says
Our family has participated for many years. We make one box from each of our three children. It gives me the opportunity to buy some pink things as a way to remember our daughter. I have a tub in the attic where I store items picked up throughout the year…just don’t store the crayons in the attic:) May I encourage you to think about the quality of the items you send,remembering this is their first picture of Jesus!..with love from Jesus rather than easily broken,cheap products from China..aka A Dollar store. Consider purchasing a real recorder from a music store rather than the dollar store whistle that doesn’t really have a great tune and easily cracks. If this was the only gift you would ever receive, what would you wish someone had included?
June says
Hi, we did occ. For years then I realized some of these kids are older and probably 50% are boys which is what my kids are. So I started choosing items from the list that my son at his current age would like?
One year we really struggled to get a football in a box. My boys are older now so we don’t do occ. Anymore. But it’s an awesome charity ???
MrsCookin says
My two preschoolers have loved helping fill shoeboxes the last two years. I usually stock up on school supplies when they are on sale at the end of summer. Crayons, pencils, scissors, glue are all inexpensive when the big stores have their back to school sales. We’ve gotten deflated soccer balls from Walmart and $1 pumps. It’s amazing how much you can fit in a shoebox. Tools and sewing supplies are great for older kids too. I’ve read that OCC receives fewer boxes for older boys and girls, so keep them in mind next time!
Jennifer says
I’ve heard soccer balls are ALWAYS a hit :)
Cindy A. says
We participated in OCC last year with others in our Sunday School class. In past years, when our children were young, we did Face of a Child through Little Samaritan Mission, http://www.lsmglobal.org/face-of-a-child-project/, out of NC. We choose this group mainly because our oldest daughter was adopted from Russia and the mission works with orphans in Moldova. They ask that you send the items in a backpack. That’s because many orphans only have plastic bags to carry to school which don’t last long and mark them as being different from those who aren’t orphans. LSM has moved the dates for sending items up to April this year, so if anyone wants to participate now’s the time to contact them to see if they still have any children who haven’t been spoken for. You will get a photo of an actual child so you can put it on your fridge and pray for that child each day. That is one of the aspects that I like about this program over OCC. The other added benefit is what you buy now to send doesn’t have to hang around somewhere in your house for 11 months before moving on out.
Jennifer says
What a wonderful idea to start planning for this NOW! I especially love that tiny tea set, I would be overjoyed to receive something like that…and I’m sure a little girl would too ;)
Jennifer says
We did this with our MOPS group this year and we found this article very helpful! Unsolicted Advice About Shoeboxes http://garrett.with.sim.org/index.php/archives/1675
Nicole says
My 1st grade Girl Scout Daisies did a box each this year. It was a great way to show them what girls in other parts of the world wish they had. I prepped them during one meeting reading them stories from kids that had received the OCC boxes. Some never had their own underwear or toothbrushes and how a family of girls savored their pink tooth paste for a full year. They couldn’t believe it! At our packing meeting, 2 weeks later, I was amazed at how many remembered the stories and had brought in underwear, socks, hair brushes and pink toothpaste! We sent personal letters in each box and maybe we’ll get a letter back. ;)
Karen says
We have filled boxes several times in the past. One year my daughter included a personal note and she received one back quite some time later.
We needed to find an online language translating program to be able to read it. It was a fun learning experience.
P.S. A moth flew in my ear over Labor Day Weekend. That was not a fun learning experience!
April says
I just had to comment on your picture…too cute! How funny that you have two sons that look just like you, one twin of the mister, and one perfect mix of the two of you :)
Laura says
Ooh, it’s fun to hear your perspective on what our kids look like! I love that. :)
Toolee Smith says
Our Catholic church participated last year as part of our community outreach program. I made about 15 boxes for girls, age 5-9. I included in each box: Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, comb, box of crayons, small coloring book, paper dolls, stickers, solar calculator, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, erasers, glue stick, paper clips, safety scissors, plastic ruler, paper tablet, small flashlight, Barbie doll, Beanie baby, slinky, jacks & ball, toy jewelry and a few other things I was able to squeeze into the corners. It was hard to get all the stuff into the boxes, and I worried about the person at the processing center packing it all back up again.
This was fun, so I plan to do more boxes this year. This year I am crocheting colorful little drawstring bags to put the soap and washcloth into. I am also making beaded bracelets for the little girls. I have plenty of time now until the next collection week at the church.
I was wondering: Where did you buy those darling little tea sets? I would love to put those into my boxes if I can find them in a store here.
Laura says
Aren’t those sweet? I got those at a clothing store (that also sometimes has toys) called Schwesers. It’s a fun store, but it’s closing this month!