If you’re looking for Christmas box ideas for Samaritan’s Purse, I have several for you here, all of which are small in size but big on fun. Plus, I’ve got a few packing tips to be sure you fill your box leaving no wasted space.
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ~Mother Teresa
Christmas Shoebox Ideas
Christmas shoebox ideas like small toys and fun items will be welcomed by any child who opens your box. Think about low-tech options that children have loved over the years–toys that don’t require batteries, just imagination.
- Slinky
- Silly Putty
- Mini Etch a Sketch
- Cars and Trucks
- Rag dolls
- Stuffed animals
Please remember that the children who are receiving the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have some serious needs in their lives. Besides just toys, be sure to include some items that can be used for school and personal hygiene.
- Crayons
- Pencils/sharpener
- Tablets
- Washcloth
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Soap
- Flip flops
- Small bowl
- Spoon
Check out my FREE printable list of 101 Ideas for your Christmas Shoeboxes HERE. You’ll find gifts for all children, plus suggestions for the older boys’ and girls’ boxes.
5 Tips for Packing Christmas Boxes
After packing lots of Christmas boxes over the course of several years, I have found there are some tips and tricks to getting the most out of the square footage of a shoebox!
- Roll the washcloth tightly. (You can even include a thin fleece throw by rolling it up.)
- Put the biggest items in first, then work around them with smaller things.
- Get a plastic soap container for the soap (like what you use when you travel). This will be another container that the child can keep.
- Pack a small plastic bowl with a lid and spoon. Put hard candies inside bowl.
- You can unwrap the hard candies from the plastic bag they come in. They will still be wrapped individually. Add these in last to your box, so they can settle into any empty spaces.
“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” ~Amy Wilson-Carmichael
:: Don’t forget to write a letter for your Operation Christmas Child box and include it with all the gifts!
Great Tips! Thanks!!
I keep reading, hoping you will tell us where to send the boxes… Did I miss it somewhere?
Connie,
Here’s a link to the Samaritan’s Purse website where you can fill in your information and find a local drop off location for you. http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Drop_Off_Locations/
Last year Lifeway bookstores collected boxes and I took my boxes there. Hope this helps!
Donn
Thank you!
I am pretty sure Hobby Lobby will take your box. Also just about any Southern Baptist Church will take the, but they must be ready and to them by the 17th.
In past years, Chik-Fil-A has collected boxes AND given you a coupon for a free chicken sandwich for each box dropped off! Of course, check with your local owner first.
Does anyone know about the box inspection process? I am always careful to avoid forbidden items, but I pack my box so full and tight that I am afraid that when it is inspected, they will not be able to pack it all back in again!
It doesn’t take long to figure out how to really stuff those boxes. After 3 days, I was a master at making bulging boxes behave. And I only had one cardboard box have to make a trip to the hospital (I had 14 plastic ones crack/break). It was fixed up with some pretty duct tape and sent on its way.
Thank You! That makes me feel better that all my items will get there. I noticed that this year Hobby Lobby has red or green plastic boxes – useful but not see through so fun for the kids
for those packing shoe boxes in Canada, tooth paste is no longer allowed.
At the processing center they will take anything out that is not allowed and send it to a rescue mission or some other place with needy people. Examples are liquids or food (candy is OK) Nothing is thrown out. They are good packers. If it was in there, they’ll put it back in.
This is the first yr I am packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. I loved shopping for the items to pack..however ..the boxes are SO SMALL one can’t really pack much in it…Would love if the boxes were larger..or if we could use larger boxes …I understand that they have to be certain sz..Couldn’t 2 boxes be put together for one person??
My daughter and I had a chance to work at the processing center this past December and one thing that I noticed was that here in the USA we have an obsession with packaging. Those boxes that had most of the packaging removed, particularly with the toy items, had so much more room for everything. Also, loose candy makes the inspectors job much harder. A small baggie full is more than enough for one child, keeps it contained, and is easy to work around.
I know that boot size boxes are not accepted. The boxes I have from the shoe store are bigger than the OCC shoeboxes. Will they be accepted?
All boxes are accepted. I worked at the distribution center this year. I believe it was 15 shoeboxes have to fit in the standard box. That is the number the missionaries count on. However, if there are more in there that means extra boxes for more children. The people putting them together do a great job of fitting them in. The most I saw was one box with 23 shoeboxes in it! So…you may use a larger box…it is just a little more work for the person trying to fit at least the required amount in each box.
I have gone to the website and still can’t find a drop off center. Do I have to wait until it is closer to Nov.? Will any church who does this accept mine? Thanks.
Yes, drop off locations open up the week of national collection weeks!
please send–50 labels for boys & girls to : First Baptist Church,Hagerman, NM 88232, box 119.
You can print them from the Samaritan’s Purse website
Plastic boxes are obviously more reusable then cardboard shoeboxes, so I usually use them, however because they’re see through will the child receiving the box get as much of a thrill in opening the box as children who have no idea in what thier box contains before opening it? I think of the box as a gift itself since it can be used time and time again but I want to be sure that the child still greatly enjoys the mystery of opening their box for the first time.
With that type of box, I would the a large bandana and line the box. Once filled, wrap the ends on top. It makes a useful gift and decorated the box at the same time.
Also, I have wanted to include things such as a fleece blanket but they take up almost the whole box despite rolling them up as tight as possible. Would I be able to vacuum pack things like that if I write on the outside of the bag it’s vacuum packed in what the item is? I think that would save a ton of room in the box and allow me to fit a lot more in it! If I put things such as the blanket, a warm hat, gloves and socks in a box will it be sure to be sent to a child in a colder climate? Are the boxes randomly packed and go to various countries despite what is in the boxes or are they sent to countries that may be in more of a need of certain things? Judging by the pics and YouTube videos of children receiving boxes many children live in colder areas and those things would be very useful or do you think it would be a better idea to not include them since they can take up so much room?
Vacuum packing is just fine. Also wherever the boxes go, it sometimes gets cold, so hats and gloves will still be needed even in hot countries. Sometimes kids use gloves as goalkeeper gloves.
I have been packing OCC boxes for several years. I have always put toothpaste and candy in them. I put several of each of these candies (dum dum pops, starburst, Skittles and smarties) in a sandwich size zip lock bag. This year I noticed that these items aren’t wanted. I read if the box doesn’t go to Canada that candy will be ok. If I put the candy in the box will the inspectors make sure it goes to an area that can have the candy?
i believe toothpaste and candy are no longer allowed. I worked at the distribution center last year and we removed all candy. It was dropped under the table into large buckets with other unacceptable items. I’m sure those items were delivered somewhere they could be appreciated. one of the workers asked could she have the candy bar and was told no.