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Have you packed your Operation Christmas Child boxes yet??
Collection week starts in just 17 days so you need to get on this! Seriously, this is one of our favorite traditions every fall and what kicks off the holiday season in our house. If you’ve never packed an Operation Christmas Child box, these are shoe boxes that get sent over seas to kids all over the world.
To make it super easy to pack a box this year, OCC has teamed up with Hobby Lobby, head in and you’ll find signs all over the store marking items that would be great for a shoebox. I also recommend checking out the stocking stuffer area that is near the Christmas decorations and getting small items that can fill the extra nooks and crannies in the box (bouncy balls, stickers, etc.)
There are a few things that I think every box needs (I went and helped distribute boxes in Haiti a few years ago and these were items kids loved or needed):
Sunglasses – get cheap pairs from conventions etc.
School Supplies – pencils, pencil sharpener, crayons, scissors
Toothpaste & Toothbrush
Soap
Pair of Socks
Wash Cloth
You can pick what gender and age range your box is for so think about what that kid would love the most and go to it. See this sweet little guy above, he wouldn’t smile or interact at all, his box was filled with a toy train and blocks and instantly he just came alive. His box didn’t have anything else really in it, but that was exactly what his little heart needed.
Once you pack your boxes, you can find collection sites all over the country. Also, register your box before you drop it off and you’ll get to find out what country your box went too!
For more ideas check out a video I did a few years ago with Operation Christmas Child:
