What to Pack in Your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox
I love finding ways to volunteer that my daughter can get involved in, but it’s hard to find those opportunities and teachable moments when she’s a toddler. One organization that makes it easy for kids to participate is Operation Christmas Child.
If you haven’t heard of Operation Christmas Child, you simply fill a shoebox with toys and goodies for a little boy or girl to enjoy. Each year, Operation Christmas Child sends tens of thousands of these boxes to children around the world who may not otherwise get Christmas presents. It’s the perfect way to get your kids involved with a mission that will impact someone across the globe!
It can be hard to figure out what to pack in these boxes, but after hearing from missionaries I have compiled a list of the BEST things to pack in your Operation Christmas Child shoebox (and some things that should be avoided).
What to Pack in Your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox
The most important thing to include is a note to the child and a picture of your family. If you include your address, they may even be able to respond! Here are some other fabulous ideas for your shoebox:
- Plastic shoebox – If you get a plastic shoebox with a flat lid one step up from Dollar Store quality, the child will be able to use this plastic box for so many different things.
- Soccer ball – This is the one thing nearly every child in the world wants. Get the best mini soccer ball you can find, or (even better) include a deflated full size soccer ball and a small pump. It will be the highlight of their box for sure.
- Baby doll – especially one with light brown skin and no hair
- Musical Instrument (harmonica, maracas, tambourine, kazoo, etc.)
- Clothes – Plain clothes with no writing or pictures in sizes that would fit slender children
- Toy cars with big wheels (so they can roll in the dirt)
- Jump ropes
- Balls
- Pens/Pencils & Sharpeners
- Watercolor paints
- Solar calculator
- Toothbrush with plastic cover
- Soap in a plastic container
- Comb
- Washcloth
- Hats
- Hair ties, headbands, hair clips
- Hat, gloves, scarf
- Melanine plate, bowl, and cup
- Simple tool kit (hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, etc.)
- Travel sewing kit
- Small flashlight with batteries
- Band Aids
What NOT to Pack in Your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox
In addition to the things your not allowed to pack in the shoeboxes (you can find the whole list on their website), here are some additional suggestions:
- Oversized clothes – there aren’t a lot of obese kids in struggling countries
- Clothes with words – you wouldn’t want to wear clothes if you didn’t know what was written on it!
- Anything with instructions – if they don’t understand English and no one is there to explain it to them, the gift will be lost in translation (even if it’s seemingly simple)
- Play Doh – they don’t know what its for and most kids think it’s edible (including my toddler!)
- Stickers or stuffed animals – the animals we think are cute might not mean the same thing in their culture (for example – dogs are unclean to Muslims, so cute puppy stickers wouldn’t make any sense)
- Fragile items
- Anything used and abused – chances are kids will only get one box, so don’t fill it with things that should go to Goodwill. Choose brand new, high quality items that you would like your kids to open on Christmas morning!
That about covers it – get your kids involved by letting them help you shop for your shoebox and by writing a note (or coloring a picture) to include in the shoebox.
National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes is November 14-21, 2016, and you can go HERE to find a collection site near you. They ask that you donate $7 per box to cover the cost of shipping, which you can learn more about by clicking here.
Has your family ever filled a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child? What would you suggest for this list?
Great ideas!