If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on OCC shoeboxes from this year for: Girl 2-4, Boy 2-4, Girl 5-9, Boy 5-9, & Boy 10-14 (will be updated with links as I post those boxes, until I do, here's a link to all the shoebox examples posts).
NOTE: Different countries have different restrictions on what can be packed in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox due to customs-no candy or toothpaste in the USA going forward. Be sure to check the guidelines from your national organization before packing!
What went into the OCC shoebox gift (Items with ** are on the list of "Wow" items):
- Hygiene Supplies:
- 2 Toothbrushes
- Soap
- Soap case
- Washcloth
- Nail flies
- Comb
- Tin all the hygiene supplies except the toothbrushes fit in
- School Supplies:
- Pens
- 1-Red
- 1-Blue
- 1-Black
- 1-Gel
- 1-Orange
- Pencils
- 5-regular
- 3-decorative
- Sharpener
- Erasers
- Spiral notebook
- Protractor
- Pencil Bag
- Art/craft supplies Supplies:
- Colored pencils
- Spirograph type toy/stencil/ruler
- Sketch book
- Mini plane paper pad
- Stationary Kit
- Stickers
- Cards
- Paper
- Envelopes
- Tape measure
- Cross stitch kit
- Bead kit
- Practical items:
- Tote bag
- Water bottle
- Flashlight
- Sewing kit
- Clothes:
- Gloves
- Socks
- Hair clips/bows
- Jewelry
- Toys
- To play noisily or others
- Marbles
- Wood tower game
- Apples to Apples
- Mini flute
- Mini ball
- To play with quietly alone
- BB mazes
- Top
- Yo-yo
- Key chain
- To "love"
- Stuffed Turkey**
- Doll *
- Personal correspondence (not pictured)
- Family photo
- Letter
I know one of the harder things for me in packing a shoebox is getting everything I want to send to fit, and sometimes it helps to see how it fits, so here's some photos of how it all fit (for more ideas on making things fit, check out my making it fit series:
Here are more examples of shoeboxes for 10-14 year old girls if you're looking for more ideas!
That's an amazing lot of stuff in a shoebox! I haven't participated before, but have all ready begun collecting for next year. I wonder if we are better off sending more gift boxes with fewer items. For a third-world child, wouldn't this be an overwhelming number of gifts? Again, I've never done this before, so I want to do the best I can next year. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMary Ann
Hi Mary Ann! And welcome to the world of shoeboxes! That's a good question, I remember a story where a child opened the box, chose and item, and handed the rest back because she thought she got to pick one item from it. Some people do prefer to pack less items in more boxes. Even different members of our family put differing amounts of items in a shoebox. For me, I've shared below my reasoning of this box, but remember, there's no right or wrong as long as you follow OCC official guidelines (start with regular sized box, pick Wow item, fill with school, hygiene, and toys).
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want things from different categories, since I don't know their needs. In many countries kids can't go to school without school supplies, so I try to get a lot of those. Enough hygiene supplies to aid their health and confidence. A sewing kit so she can mend or make herself clothes, etc. A water bottle in case she has a safe water source, but not always available (say her school has a filter, but her home has a dirty water hole). A bag to be sure she can carry it all. A flashlight so she can safely go outside at night. A whistle for safety-girls may have to walk alone distances, and I can see how one could help keep them safe from others. Jewelry/hair bows to make her feel special. Plus some fun items to be sure it is exciting, plus a mix of fun items she can do by herself and with others. Since there are so many needs, and I'm not sure what they are, I try to meet as many as possible.
Second, I don't know what she'll like so I try to put a verity-for instance, this box has 3 games so she can choose among them-maybe she doesn't speak English well enough to play Apples to Apples, or maybe she's in a hospital bed and can't play marbles.
Third, I like to make use of every inch of the box I'm sending, I got in the habit sending care packages-hate to waste space shipping air-haha!
Forth, the children often have friends, cousins, or even siblings that didn't get a box that they may wish to share with. I once read something about one thing that bothered people in poverty was not being able to give. So, with a few small extras, they'll have something to give other children, or even parents and other adults. I remember hearing a story where a child gave one of the people handing out the boxes something from theirs to take back to the person's child.
So, that's my thinking. But, like I said, it's not really a right/wrong thing, just a personal preference.
What did you put in the sewing kit, the cross stitch kit and the beading kit?
ReplyDeleteChris Rawlin
You can see what was in the sewing kits I packed, and how I enhanced them in this post: http://www.simplyshoeboxes.com/2015/10/enhancing-sewing-kits-for-occ-shoe-boxes.html
ReplyDeleteThe cross stitch kit, was just a starter kit that came pre-packaged. I think it had cloth, floss, needle and instructions.
The beading kit had a mix of beads and things to string them on (probably yarn, ribbon, embroidery floss, etc)