Thankful for Shoeboxes!

Shoeboxes get me so excited!!! I know, first buttermilk, now shoeboxes! You must be wondering, “Charlene, what on earth are you thinking!?”

Well it just so happens, I’m gearing up for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child program. The idea is simple: fill a shoebox with items for a child, then take it to a drop-off location near you so it can start its journey to a child in need. 

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Samaritan’s Purse delivers the filled shoeboxes to children living in poverty across the globe.  According to their website, since 1993 they have delivered shoeboxes to over 100 different countries…reaching over 146 million children!  Truly amazing!

What’s in Our Boxes?

Finding items to fill the shoeboxes was the easy part…fitting them all in was a different story! We chose a plastic shoebox (which is allowed) to pack our items in to give the child something sturdy for storage.

The shoeboxes are to be filled with new items such as toys, school supplies, crafts, hygiene items or clothes.  It is up to you!  Samaritan’s Purse has a gift suggestion list available on their website if you need help getting started.

We scoured the clearance sections of many stores, to be able to stretch our dollar and purchase more items.  We got lucky with $0.30 knit scarves and gloves found at Target!!!  While there we also discovered regularly priced items that helped us save money too! $0.59 cereal bowls  and 8 oz. cups in several colors. Most of the children own nothing. Imagine not having something to eat or drink from. I will definitely be purchasing those again this year!

 Travel toothbrushes are also a great idea because they are small and have a lid to protect from dirt.

Next Stop? Thrift Shop!

Thrift shops are also a great spot to stretch your dollar and find new items to pack! Let’s face it…in our country, with an abundance of possessions, NEW items often get donated to thrift shops. The stuffed animals we found at a thrift shop were new with tags/packaging.  The Teenie Beanie Babies rang in at only $0.29 each, and the teddy bear was under $1. We even found a plastic shoebox for .50 cents.

We’ve also gotten into the habit of always being on the lookout for deals! We regularly check for items throughout the year at thrift shops and clearance items in stores (especially after a holiday).  I’ve already amassed a stockpile for this year’s boxes and cannot wait to assemble them.  If all of this is overwhelming to you, I know how you feel…I was there too!  You want to help, but could do without all the planning.  Well, stress not!

Hobby Lobby is Here to Help with All Your Shoebox Needs!

Check out your local Hobby Lobby for all the supplies you need to pack a shoebox in one stop!  Hobby Lobby has partnered with Operation Christmas Child and you can find information, ideas, and supplies in store about mid-September.

An array of items, for any budget, can be found there!  Don’t forget to use their 40% off weekly coupon too!

Want easier yet?!  You can also build a shoebox online through Samaritan’s Purse for a suggested donation of $25! With a few clicks, you can make it your own by choosing from a list of gifts, then adding a personal letter and photo. They will pack your shoebox, and mail it for you. Done!

Your family members and friends can join the efforts too.  Samaritan’s Purse also offers $25 gift cards for recipients to redeem to create their own shoebox on the Samaritan’s Purse website. Stocking stuffers is what comes to my mind!

National Collection Week  

Collection for 2018 is scheduled for November 12th-19^th, and it always happens the week before Thanksgiving each year. Drop-off locations near you can be found on Samaritan’s Purse website.

Last year was the first year we packed shoeboxes, in large part because I finally remembered to check dates for collection.  I would always forget the Christmas shoeboxes actually needed to be completed before Thanksgiving to allow them enough time to be delivered for Christmas.  I made sure to make a note on my 2018 calendar, so this year we will be packing shoeboxes again!  I’ve already pre-marked 2019 also, so I won’t forget!  (Go ahead, mark your calendar too!)

Shoebox Drop-Off Day Had Arrived!

Somehow we’d managed to get everything to fit inside our shoeboxes.  Thankfully, we still had room for a letter and a family photo.  My kids wanted to know which country their boxes were sent to so we used the “Follow Your Box” donation instructions online and printed a label to attach to each shoebox. With the labels affixed, we were now ready to take the shoeboxes to our local drop-off location!  My kids were excited to finally get their bundles off on the first leg of their journey.

Inside, the volunteers were very appreciative and helpful.  They shared stories with my kids about boxes being delivered on camelback or elephant!  We heard about children who literally own nothing and who may only ever receive this one gift during their childhood.  It was, and is now while I type, a difficult thing to imagine.  It made my children realize how blessed they are.  It made them want to help more. 

I asked if we could see where the boxes were being stored before shipment to the headquarters.  The sight of all the boxes lined up was so powerful!  We left knowing we would make shoeboxes again each year- something so simple to help others.

Where Did Our Boxes Go?

Several weeks later, I’d received an email letting me know our boxes had been delivered to children in Mexico.  We were eager to learn all we could about Mexican culture for school that week.  My kids pointed out Mexico on our wall map to anyone who visited our home and shared with them our shoebox story.  I am so very glad we donated shipping fees to track our boxes.  Knowing the country they were delivered to made a huge impact on my children.  It helped create a “face” of a child they have helped.

PERHAPS you are inspired to help a child in need!  Maybe this is just the homeschool/family project you’ve been looking for!  You can do it… and I’d love to hear your story too!!!

“I don’t think outside the box. I think of what I can do with it.” ~ Unknown