Fixing Fillers for Operation Christmas Child Processing Center from Donations

Along with packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child each year, we like to send fillers for the OCC processing center to add to boxes that need something extra.  This year one of the items we are sending are tiny stuffies wrapped in crocheted loveys.  They were all donated to us to use in our boxes, the kids packing party at church or to send as fillers.  By wrapping the small animals in a crocheted lovey it turns an ordinary item into a WOW item.

I love the uniqueness of each lovey--just like the children who will receive them.

Suzanne, from Sew Delightful, sends us many donations each year.  Some of the items are pillowcase dresses, handmade jewelry, small toys and tiny stuffed
animals. Suzanne also donates to other Operation Christmas Child shoebox packers and ministries.

Donation from Suzanne.

Chelle, from Chelle's Caybees, crochets hundreds of items and donates them to our OCC shoebox efforts as well as other charities.  She also includes fun items like decorative pencils and small notebooks, crayons, stickers and marbles.  She always includes several crocheted loveys.

Chelle's donation for 2017.

I decided to combine the loveys and the tiny animals and donate them as fillers.  I used ribbon to tie them all up so they don't get separated.

I wrapped the ribbon around the middle of the animal tightly (did not tie).

I then put the ribbon thru the bottom of the lovey going between stitches.

                This is after it is tied, but you can see the ribbon on the bottom left coming thru                     between the stitches.

I then wrapped the lovey around the stuffy and brought the ribbon up around the back of the lovey.

By squeezing, this back part of the lovey can easily be pulled thru the ribbon.
This way it will be easy to disassemble without cutting.

Finally I tied it on top.  Much like I did for the babies, hats and blankets.

We include a stuffed animal in each of our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes so we were happy to have these to send as fillers so more boxes can have stuffed animals.

A pile of loveys and stuffies wrapped up with love for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

If you would like to donate fillers to OCC but aren't sure how, check out this post I wrote for details:  Five Ways to Donate Handcrafted Fillers to Operation Christmas Child.  I wrote it with crafters in mind, but the process is the same for any donations.

~ Cheryl