Freebies and Clearanced Stuffies for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes ~ Weekly Shoe Box Shopping 4/15

There is another bunny hiding behind
the blue one on the right.

I got a few fun items for my Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing this week and I also had an opportunity to give some of my donation (and personal) stock to a local charity.  I had three freebies this week.  At the grocery store there was a deal to get a free re-usable shopping bag if you bought five of one item.  These are
great to tuck into shoe boxes.  There was also a free a zippered pouch in a box of Infinity pads my daughter purchased--so it will be great to add to a shoe box.  I may make a sewing kit to tuck inside or some hygiene items like nail clips and nail files.  Or fill it with some candy.  And for just tax I got a tube of toothpaste at CVS.  It was $2.99 with $2 back in extra bucks and I had $1 coupon. I always include a toothbrush and toothpaste in my boxes.  EDIT:  Toothpaste is no longer allowed in OCC shoeboxes.

I did spend some money this week and it was for stuffies.  I always include "something to love" in my boxes. Small stuffed animals or dolls can be so comforting to a child in crisis.  I like to buy quality ones so they last the longest but I get them on clearance or on Ebay in lots and my limit right now is supposed to 75 cents to a dollar.  But I have such a soft spot for stuffed animals and dolls that it is hard for me stick to that.

I just love the thoughts of a child cuddling with these so when I see a really cute or soft one I can't resist.  You can read our post Why We Include a Stuffed Animal in Each of Our Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes if you are interested in learning more of our thoughts.

My grocery store had these on clearance from $5 to $1.25.  I did restrain myself and only bought 5 (I left at least that many).  Maybe next week they will still be there and be cheaper :-).  Another reason I like to buy these when I find them even if a little over my budget is that I want a variety of items to make each box special.  I plan to pack 100 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child this fall and with buying stuff on clearance in lots it can be difficult to make them unique.  I hope to do that with the stuffed animals as much as possible and a handmade item in each.

Total Value:  $30+ (can't put a price on the free zippered bag so I put in $.50)
Total Spent:  $6 + tax
Saved:  80% + (edited to correct percentage)

Our Youth Pastor's wife was having a "spa" night with the girls this Friday and emailed to ask if I had any stocked goodies that they could use to make bags up for the ladies and children at the abuse/homeless center for women in our town.  I was so excited that I had some things I could send to add to what the leaders and girls were bringing.  Many items are still in boxes from our move two weeks ago, but I dug around and between my daughters and I we were able to send over 50 items (from sanitary pads, nail clips, shampoo, wash cloths, toothpaste, razors, etc. for the ladies to cleaning supplies and laundry soap for the center itself--obviously this wasn't all from my shoebox stockpile).  I didn't put these items in shoe boxes this time, but the same effect was felt by the ladies receiving the bags the youth girls put together.

 You can see all of filler items purchased here:  Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ Adding to Our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Stockpile.