Step 2: Candy Preparation ~ Organizing a Spur of the Moment OCC Packing Party

Candy double bagged to protect items in boxes in case of melting.
It also helps keep it from absorbing any soap odor/taste
 (soap is also bagged).

We have always included hard candy in our shoe boxes and our Children's Pastor mentioned putting it in so that was included in the list for the Operation Christmas Child packing party my daughter is doing for her AWANA kids.  We had some left overs from our own shoe boxes and whenever my daughters need candy for the AWANA kids they buy hard candy suitable for OCC boxes...if there is any leftover,
they can save it.  When we bagged up all the candy and gum we had she only was in need of suckers for the 2 to 4 year old boxes.

As suggested, this time of year candy is on clearance...not at the stores she went to.  Some had carts of candy up front, but it was all regular price. She found large bags of Dum-Dums at Dollar General for $2.00 each and she would need four.  That was the best price so she waited until Saturday to add it to other items she need and to use the $5 off $30 coupons.

Saturday morning when she arrived they had just marked it down 25% off.  So she got her four bags for $6.00 instead of $8.00.  Then with the $5 off $30 coupon it brought the price down to $5.00 for the four bags.  That left $3.00 to use on other items.

What difference a day makes.
Friday:  $2.  
Saturday with sale and coupon:  $1.25.

She did have to buy sandwich zipper bags to double bag the candy.  Even hard candy can melt and if it did it could ruin everything in the box.  Off to zip up some Dum-Dums!

UPDATE 2017:  Candy is no longer allowed in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Follow along with our family as I share our journey of The Spur of The Moment OCC Packing Party of 2013.