Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes

[noodleknitter]

We have a group going to Charlotte to help! Our wee little church managed to collect 23 shoeboxes last year. We collect stuff all year long to go into them.

 

[Rumpletinker]

Our school and church does Christmas shoe boxes. One year, (i don't know how) we received a video about Samaritan's Purse. Our school showed it to us. I cried through the whole video. It was so indescribable. The children's faces were beautiful and so happy when they opened the boxes. I never realized how much i had until i saw that video and how they lived.

 

[disneyfanforever]

I have never heard of this organization before. It sounds like a great opportunity for my family this year. I think the rubbermaid boxes sound good, and I am going to get my boys out this weekend (hopefully) and buy some items. Thanks for posting about this.

 

[Pixiedust34]

This is the first year we are participating in the shoebox program. It was fun to pick items for our shoeboxes.

If you have any Mickey soaps from WDW, this is a good product to put into the boxes. Unfortunately, the Mickey shampoos are not allowed because they are liquids.

We are going to do this project every year.

 

[chell]

I am so geeked up this year about the opportunity to go and volunteer for a day at the OCC main distribution center in Charlotte in December (about an hour from my house). Some youth from our church are going and I'll get to go along as an adult leader. I have been to the headquarters in Boone. I've heard the size of the operation in Charlotte is jawdropping in scale and comparison.

You are going to have a wonderful time! It is amazing to see just how much some of the people can pack in a little ole shoe box.

 

[chell]

We have a group going to Charlotte to help! Our wee little church managed to collect 23 shoeboxes last year. We collect stuff all year long to go into them.

You will have a great time as well. Remember to wear comfy clothes and comfy shoes.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Thank you so much! I'm so excited to do this. It's not too late, either. It says pick up for my area (all areas?) is November 13th through the 20th.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Our school and church does Christmas shoe boxes. One year, (i don't know how) we received a video about Samaritan's Purse. Our school showed it to us. I cried through the whole video. It was so indescribable. The children's faces were beautiful and so happy when they opened the boxes. I never realized how much i had until i saw that video and how they lived.

We showed one of this year's video versions before worship last Sunday. There are two stories on this one short video that made me tear up -one about a 12 yo orphaned boy in Slovakia who lived in the sewers; another about a girl in the Phillipines who lives about 2 feet from the railroad track. Honestly, my family should do more. We have been able to do six boxes this year.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Do any of you write personal notes inside your shoeboxes? Do you include your names or anything like that in a letter to the child? This is our first year doing the shoeboxes and I'm not sure whether we should include a little note or not. (And if so, what should the note say?) TIA!

 

[kbkids]

Do any of you write personal notes inside your shoeboxes? Do you include your names or anything like that in a letter to the child? This is our first year doing the shoeboxes and I'm not sure whether we should include a little note or not. (And if so, what should the note say?) TIA!

We always do - just something along the lines of "hope you like the gifts we sent" and maybe why you picked some of the things you did, i.e. my DD loves playing with jacks and thought you might too. I always take a picture of my kids, their names and ages to send along with it.

 

[noodleknitter]

You will have a great time as well. Remember to wear comfy clothes and comfy shoes.

Thanks!

 

[TLHB70]

We do this every year too. My girls each fill a Rubbermaid box for a child. Plus, we always do boxes for soldiers at the same time. They each fill a box for a soldier (not a shoebox, just a regular box for shipping). We give the soldiers hygiene items such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. We also give them snacks, magazines (ESPN and Sports Illustrated), books and a video. The girls each fill 2 boxes a year. They include a letter and picture. It is a great holiday tradition! We did all of them last week!

ETA that we bought the Rubbermaid boxes with the slide lock lids this year instead of the pop on lids.

 

[TLHB70]

We have a group going to Charlotte to help! Our wee little church managed to collect 23 shoeboxes last year. We collect stuff all year long to go into them.

Where/when are you coming? Our church will be doing collection dates this week. I will be helping out Thursday evening.

 

[Straitlover]

Haven't read the whole thread, so I don't know if this has been mentioned or not. Last year, I volunteered at the Boone, NC warehouse/distribution center. The told us that they really prefer people to not use the plastic boxes or really big paper shoeboxes. The plastic ones do not stack well (experienced this first hand as we could not stack the pallets very high w/ these), and the big boxes (like boot boxes, etc) cost more than the $7 to ship (many people don't send shipping money at all, so SP is having to cover shipping for those plus the extra for the big boxes). I know I've used the plastic one sin the past because I wnated the kids to get lots of stuff. However, I will just do more of the regular size paper boxes from now on.

Anyway, just wanted to post what we were told. Thanks to all who support this great ministry!

 

[olena]

My Sorority chapter just delivered 17 boxes. We do this every year and make a little party out of it.

 

[Freyja]

We´re doing this for the first time this year. Each child filled 1 box so we sent 4 boxes. I love this idea.

 

[horseshowmom]

We also participate in this - one for each of us plus DD's BF for a total of 4. We all enjoy picking out the age and sex of the child (each of us picks a different one) and trying to find things they might enjoy. It's a small gesture on our part but a large one for them.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Haven't read the whole thread, so I don't know if this has been mentioned or not. Last year, I volunteered at the Boone, NC warehouse/distribution center. The told us that they really prefer people to not use the plastic boxes or really big paper shoeboxes. The plastic ones do not stack well (experienced this first hand as we could not stack the pallets very high w/ these), and the big boxes (like boot boxes, etc) cost more than the $7 to ship (many people don't send shipping money at all, so SP is having to cover shipping for those plus the extra for the big boxes). I know I've used the plastic one sin the past because I wnated the kids to get lots of stuff. However, I will just do more of the regular size paper boxes from now on.

Anyway, just wanted to post what we were told. Thanks to all who support this great ministry!

Thanks for passing this along. It really makes a lot of sense that equally-sized boxes would be easier to stack and ship. Funny thing, I'd heard/assumed that plastic boxes were desirable because they could be reused by the recipient. (Not disputing what you are saying at all, though) We'll be delivering 64 shoeboxes fromn our little church to the collection site in town one day this week. I can't wait to go and volunteer in Charlotte on 12/2.

 

[TLHB70]

Our church bulletin even says that they prefer the plastic boxes because the children can use them to keep their belongings in them, keep belongings dry and clean, etc.
Honestly, I had never thought about the stacking and thought the plastic boxes were preferred.
Thanks for passing this information on, Straitlover!

 

[chell]

Thanks for passing this along. It really makes a lot of sense that equally-sized boxes would be easier to stack and ship. Funny thing, I'd heard/assumed that plastic boxes were desirable because they could be reused by the recipient. (Not disputing what you are saying at all, though) We'll be delivering 64 shoeboxes fromn our little church to the collection site in town one day this week. I can't wait to go and volunteer in Charlotte on 12/2.

My guess is that it all depends on who you ask. When I worked there people loved getting the plastic boxes.