Operation Christmas Child via the 'Net

 

             

It's Operation Christmas Child shoebox time again.  We won't miss it if we can at all help it. 

 In the times BC (Before Covid) we would pick up items throughout the year when I would find a good sale.  Then on 31 October we would make a list of those things we still needed to finish up our boxes.  We would head out for some fun shopping.  After we were done, a meal out ended the evening.

 Can't do that anymore.

 But we can still give OCC shoeboxes!  

By going to the Samaritan's Purse web site you can "build a shoebox online".   https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/    You can select what age and gender you'd like to make a box for.  "Essential" items (school supplies, toothbrush, grooming kit) are then added in.  The "WOW" item is next - doll, stuffies, or soccer ball.  Then comes 3 small toys to pick from a list... (I wonder how many harmonicas are throw far away by a mama who is sick of hearing them?)   Two accessories are next... we pick flip flops and a T shirt.  Your box is now full!

 Final thing to do is to include a note and photo to go in the box (so get a nice picture of your family ready in advance).

 The total cost for using the build a box option is $25 - which includes the $9 shipping & handling costs.  All that stuff inside for only $16... what a bargain.   And if you wish, you can add $6 to fund a Bible school afterwards for each of the children.  This is where they will hear what these boxes are all about.

 This year we did 6 boxes... 

I picked for my three boxes to go to baby girls in the age range of 2 years to 4 years old.  Just like this little nugget!

Himself chose to do his three boxes for boys in the oldest range... ages 11 to 14 years old.  This group is the least selected by people packing shoe boxes. 

If you decide to do the online box building, you can do it even after the national drop-off time is over.

Shoe Boxes Full of Love

It's Operation Christmas Child again!

This year we packed two boxes in honor of Little Bird and Little Hoss.  Every year they wanted to do a baby (2-4 years old) rather than their own ages.  So that is what we packed for.

We FILLED those tubs!

We stopped by Walgreens to pick up photos to put in the boxes, which we packed in once we got to the drop-off location.

They were doing a brisk business!

We always pay shipping online so we can track the boxes to see where they end up.

With these boxes shipped... it's time to start collecting for 2019!

Shoe Boxes Are On Their Way!

This is when and where our Christmas season every year...

With our Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.

This year Himself got in on some of the unloading action, helping several people bring in carloads of boxes from their autos.

The truck was looking good!  It makes me happy to think of all those kids who will receive these boxes packed with love.

How To Shop Frugally for Operation Christmas Child Items

People are often surprised when they hear we do 6 boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  They ask if it is very expensive for us.

Um no... not when you have this Scots woman shopping!

We get tools for the big boys for FREE through Harbor Freight stores.  They offer many items we use for the boxes - screw driver sets, tape measures, volt meters, scissors, hammers, and so on - free with purchase.  That's not an issue because there is ALWAYS something we need from there.  Tape, nails, and so on.  And sometimes you can score free with no purchase needed!  And the coupons are everywhere.

After season sales are great too.  Last February I scored those little panda bears for .73c each and the glasses were six for .50c on a Valentine clearance sale.  August I get school supplies... at Walmart the notebooks were .20c each, rulers were .10c, crayons were .25c, and so on.  

And of course there is Dollar Tree for soap, toothbrushes, certain toys like balls, and so on.  Just shop carefully to make sure the quality is good.

Stopping for fast food?  Order a kid's meal and get the toy for your box.  And you'll have the bonus of a smaller meal.

If you have a Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or JoAnn's around use their 40% to 50% off coupons to buy plastic tubs for your 'shoe box'.  The tub becomes part of your gift as it becomes bug free storage for food.

When you spread your Operation Christmas Child shopping out over the year, it's actually quite easy to do six boxes.  We store the items in one of 3 under-bed boxes (you can see one in the second photo).  Almost everything we need is already there in late October.

Try it and see how well it can work for you.

Six Gifts

Our Christmas tradition continues - the shopping for and packing of the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes!

Our four boxes for boys age 11 to 14.

Yes, you do see soft cuddly lovies at the top of the box.  In developing countries something to hold on to is still a very big thing even if you're a boy who is getting big.

School supplies, hygiene products, balls and other toys, and caps are just a few of the things we packed.

And while we were in Missouri in October we went shopping with Little Bird and Little Hoss.  They love buying for the shoe boxes.  It's wonderful to see how excited they are to help "the poor babies".  Once again they both opted to pack a box for a baby (age 2 - 4) rather than their own age group.  At the stores, Unca Himself takes off with Little Hoss to do 'boy shopping'.  Little Bird and I do our chick shopping in peace.

Little Bird's box.

And Little Hoss's looking good too.

I wonder where these boxes will end up?

Our First Christmas Presents... Operation Christmas Child

As always, Operation Christmas Child is the start of our holiday season!

When we were in MO in October, we went shopping (our third year) with Little Bird and Little Hoss.  They were so excited and told us all about the things we did last year.  Wow.

Both kids wanted to do a box for a baby rather than one for a child their own age.

Little Bird and her bounty.

Getting it packed up.

Hoss did a good shopping too.  (He wanted his OCC child to see his cool 'tools').

Looking over the bag for his child.

I picked these up at TJ Maxx.  I like for the children to have something to put their things in so they can get them home safely.

When we got back to Tennessee, Himself and I did our four boxes for the oldest boys. 

Getting everything laid out in four piles.

Everything I managed to fit into one box!

This year we put in some small tools.  In many countries a 14 year old boy is practically a man.  We hope these things will help him learn a trade.

Of course Persia had to check everything out.

Nosy cat!

Church also had a Shoebox project.  The materials set out in the Fellowship Hall for about a month.

On Collection Sunday there were 225 shoe boxes brought in.  Our final total was (I think) 241 boxes.

Not bad!

Here are our six boxes.

Filling out the paperwork!

On the last day of collection, many relay sites brought in their boxes.  There were so many volunteers helping; including soldiers from Ft. Campbell.

They moved cartons from the relay station truck into the shipment truck.

Those are full size Semi trailers... one full and one getting that way quickly.

Himself got in on the unloading when a church brought in their boxes.

Little Bird's box.

I wonder where our boxes will go...

343 Boxes of Joy (Update - 351 boxes!)

Sunday was the dedication of the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes at our church.  They were all across the front of the church leaving just enough room for folks to get up front without tripping over them.

Our pastor spoke about the program and how it works.

Then our deacons came forward to pray while the rest of the congregation also prayed for the children who will receive these boxes.

Then on Monday it was time to take them to the local drop-off point so they can be shipped to the distribution center in Atlanta, GA.   Our friends "Bugman" and "Mama Nick" were the leaders of the project and we helped them load and carry the boxes to the drop-off.

That table holds 88 shoe boxes.

How many shoe boxes do you think I can get loaded in our Sentra?

The answer would be....

204!!!

Our total was 343 boxes of joy!

(One of the ladies at the drop-off point said I get the prize for the most stuffed full car!)

And meanwhile back at the ranch...

We were still working on our shoe boxes!  Having just recently gotten back from our trip, we were still getting things put together.

Himself took care of the boxes for our 4 older boys (ages 10-14).  Years ago the regional representative for Operation Christmas Child told us that the least boxes were prepared for the older boys.  That is still true today.  So our boxes have always been for the older boys.

And yes, you see teddy bears.  Many of the boxes go to places that are war torn or disaster struck.  And a 10 to 14 year old is still a child that needs a soft lovie to hold.

Once the babies came along, we started doing a box in honor of each of them.  Last year, the babies came with us for the shopping for the shoe boxes.

We went shopping with them again this year too.  And this year they were much more involved; with definite ideas of their own on what to put in the boxes.  As you can see, Little Bird is sure that 'her poor baby' needs a lot of pink!

If you go online to pay for the box's handling, your label will include a bar code that will be scanned at shipping.  You'll then get an email telling you where your box(es) are going.  (To get a unique bar code for each box you have to use different email addresses.)

We will be dropping our boxes off this week... adding to the total from our church.

I wonder where our boxes will go...