Does anyone make "shoeboxes" for Samaritan's Purse?

[missypie]

Samaritan's Purse is a Christian organization run by Franklin Graham (Billy's son) that provides boxes of small gifts to children all over the world around Christmas time. Our church participates and each year our family fills 3 boxes - one for a kid the age and gender of each of our kids. It's a great charitiable family "Christmas" project, because you have to turn in the boxes by October, so you have it done long before Christmas.

ANYWAY, if you also fill these shoeboxes, I wanted to remind you to buy school supply items NOW. By October, markers, colored pencils, etc. will be selling at full price. Now the stores are selling school supplies at very low prices....so buy now!

People at church have been heard to complain about how much they spent filling a shoe box. I buy small items on sale as I see them all year. Also, things like the Teenie Beanies from McDonald's are perfect.

 

[mommystieg]

Where are you at in N Texas, Missypie? We live in the DFW metroplex and we often fill our "Operation Christmas Child" shoeboxes with great stuff from Dollar Tree. We also pick up one box for each one of our kids and we can usually get lots of stuff -- and spend around $10 on each box. They have all the hygiene things--combs, toothbrushes, etc--as well as little toys, pens, pencils, notebooks, snacks, etc. I should try to remember this year to include some of those kids' meal toys that we have accumulated throughout the year....

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I LOVE filling shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse. I throw in some school supplies, some personal care supplies and then some fun things. It's always a challenge getting everything to fit.

Good idea about getting things onsale. I usually don't think about it until it is time to fill the boxes.

 

[alabamaalan]

Yes we do, and my oldest daughter really enjoyed being a bigger part of it last year since we let her pick things out.

We've done this the past several years but this is the first year we were smart enough to buy items throughout the year so now all we have to do is take them to the church when we collect.

It's been fun seeing all the people at Dollar Tree with lists in their hands, but I'll be happy to avoid the crowd too!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We usually do about 3 or 4, and I must admit we spend up to $30 on the stuff. Our shoe boxes are big, since all the ds wear really big shoes. One ds had to do it for a project as part of his bible class at school. The rest we do at church and the other ds school. I have some stuff already from dollar stores etc. It such a blessing knowing we can bless other kids who have so little. Opens my kids eyes to not take things they have for granted.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Re: Does anyone make "shoeboxes" for Samaritan's Purse?

Both my sister and I do, we do 2 or 3 boxes each.
And this year we both got a letter and a picture from one of the recipients.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Our church has been doing it for several years now. My parents always fill two, one for each of my kids. In the earlier years, they loved helping their grandparents pick out the stuff for the other kids.
Kim

 

[LScot]

DD's school does this.

I always put Mickey Mouse soap from WDW in there!! Excellent idea if I do say so myself!!