I have to confess that we almost didn’t pack boxes this year. I was going through the items I’d picked up since last year & threw some out (the kiddie nail polish was not worth sending, for example). I figured I’d give it to someone at some point.
When I told the girls, they were pretty disappointed. Then I got the email about sharing information about Operation Christmas Child from their media department and decided to share. Which kind of shamed me back into it because, really, I should put up or shut up.
VeggieTales and Operation Christmas Child
As part of VeggieTales celebrating their 20th anniversary, they decided to team up with Operation Christmas Child. Not only did the VeggieTales folks create a short on how to pack an OCC shoebox, but OCC has been helping to promote the newest VeggieTales holiday release – Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas. Shoebox gifts demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way and serve as an example of His greatest gift to us, just as Christmas is a demonstration of God’s love for us by giving us his only son. It’s a really great way for kids to be able to give to others and they really seem to get it.
Stocking the Shoeboxes
Since I quit looking for deals, I didn’t have a ton of stuff. Luckily, I’m a compulsive shopper. And last year I made a spreadsheet of items included & cost/box. So I took an inventory of our surplus and was able to knock a lot of items off the list before I even went shopping. Yay!
If you are starting from scratch, the dollar store & target’s dollar spot are a great place to start. That’s where I went to fill in the holes. I also bought a few things at the Sam’s club that were cheaper than I thought I would find at the dollar store.
ShoeBox Suggestions
Here is a list of items that I included last year and we will be doing about the same this year. We sent out 4 last year (one for each pregnancy) and they were about $29 each including the shipping. This year we are up to 5, since the birth of the Little Man.
| Coloring Book |
| Soap |
| Toothpaste (CL) |
| Toothbrush Set |
| 4 pk Toothbrush |
| Wet Wipes |
| Socks (2 pr) |
| Towel |
| MM Color/sticker |
| MM Tin |
| Crayons |
| MM Comb/Mirror |
| Doll |
| Shirt (4T) |
| Kleenex Packet |
| Plastic Shoebox |
| Washcloth |
| Candy |
So, if you are still waivering, you still have time. Even ONE shoebox will impact the life of a child.
If you decide to take part, pay for your shipping online — when you do, you will find out where your box went! Last year ours went to Kenya & Haiti. Be sure to include a note or picture for your child. If you visit the OCC/Vegietales page, they have coloring pages AND you can even print a coupon for Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas!
What are you waiting for? Scour your home for extras and head to the dollar store or Target to round it out!
Will you join me? National Collection week is next week — 11/18-25!
