what to write in an operation christmas child letter

Are you packing your boxes for Operation Christmas Child?  Hither are 5 things EVERY shoebox needs to take.  Plus some extra suggestions if yous have the space.

Call up, y'all are packing a shoebox for a child that probable has next to zip – non even things nosotros would consider basic necessities.  Please, please, please don't pack ALL toys in your box.  Yep, toys are great only please consider these things also.  Every child that gets an OCC box deserves to have these items also.

1. Schoolhouse Supplies

I know they seem boring, but every shoebox NEEDS bones schoolhouse supplies.Pencils AND a sharpener are a must.  Extra erasers are a good idea.  I normally but include pens in the 10-14 box.  Every box gets a pack of crayons.  I try to include a pocket-sized writing tablet.  Wider shoeboxes can even adjust a composition notebook.Colored pencils (send a sharpener!) ormarkers are as well nice.

Gum sticks are okay just yous cannot send liquid mucilage.

Watercolorsare okay but you cannot send liquid paints.

Scissors are okay to ship as well!

In a lot of countries, if a child does not have supplies they cannot go to schoolhouse.  In the Shoebox Stories on the Samaritan's Purse Website  one male child tells of the time he got a box that contained a whole pack of pencils.  In the Russian orphanage they were only given one pencil that had to final a whole year.  He was excited to have extra pencils!

two. Washcloth and Soap

This is a basic need we take for granted.  But each shoebox needs to include these items as well.  Lather should be bagged in ziploc numberless (even if they are wrapped, and fifty-fifty if y'all pack information technology in it's own case – which isn't a bad idea so and so they volition accept something to keep information technology in).   For the 2-4 boxes I normally buy a few packs of infant washcloths (you lot tin can get a box of 4 for $1 at the Dollar Tree) and include 2 per box.  For the older kids I pack a full size washcloth or two or sometimes a hand towel (like in the moving-picture show above).

In the Shoebox Stories on the Samaritan'southward Purse Website one boy who was in an orphanage talks about how excited he was to go a washcloth because it meant he didn't have to share anymore because he at present had his own.

3.  Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Important update for 2017 – Toothpaste (and candy) are no longer immune in shoeboxes due to shipping and community bug.  Read more here.

This is some other of those basic needs we have for granted.  Merely I never let a shoebox gift leave my hands if it doesn't have a toothbrush and toothpaste in it.  The piffling travel kit on the far left side of the pic was $1 at the Dollar Tree.  I like those because they have a case that snaps around the head of the toothbrush to keep information technology clean.  And it has a zippered example and then the child has something to keep their items in.Having something to keep their toothbrush in and make clean is a smashing thought nosotros take for granted! So try to include a travel case for the toothbrush.

iv. Elementary Clothing Items

This is something that is disregarded in a lot of boxes.  I gauge a lot of people don't call up about information technology.Socks get included a lot considering they are cheap to add.  Dollar Tree has 2 and 3 pair packs for $1.00.  You can purchase two 3 pair packs and split them up betwixt 3 boxes with 2 pair in each box – for merely $two!Shirts are a great detail to include as well.  I bought a couple simple t-shirts at Dollar Tree like the i in the picture for just $i!  You can't beat that!Underwear is something to consider including too.  I've packed hats in boxes before – baseball caps for older boys and the "bucket style" hats in the 2-4 age boxes.Shoes are good too.  I find flip-flops on clearance all the time after summer.  The ones in the picture above cost me $.90 at JCPenney this fall1

I avoid anything "winter" (toboggans, mittens, etc) because in the several years of "tracking your box" (since 2011) our boxes have gone to multiple countries in Africa and one to the Dominican Democracy.  This all depends on your driblet-off location (relay eye) and which processing center the boxes go through.  Ours e'er go through Atlanta.  If y'all track your box this year you'll have a expert idea of the region yours will end up in future years.  Or you can call your drop-off location and they should be able to tell what countries that location volition service or at least what processing center they become to.  Then from the processing center you can determine region.

Someone else as well mentioned for older daughter boxesgardening gloves and older boy boxeswork gloves.  I idea this was a fabulous idea.!

5. Something to Love

I put a blimp toy in almost every box.  Sometimes the 10-xiv boxes don't go a blimp toy if I can find every bit great things to include (like a flashlight, shoes or a football game in a 10-fourteen box or extra clothes, fine art supplies or small purse for the 10-14 girl) but a box for a 2-4 twelvemonth old or a 5-nine year one-time is never without a soft toy. Issues is a big help in picking these out.  Dollar Tree has tons of stuffed animals and soft dolls to pick from at merely $1 each.

The children receiving these boxes have probable been through horrible things in their life.  A simple soft toy to concord can mean so much and bring so much comfort.  Problems picked out the acquit to a higher place for "his box" this year – the one he was responsible for packing himself.   He held it all the way dwelling house from the store and earlier he put it in the box he gave information technology a big hug and said "It's going to accept a while for you lot to get to your new boy.  But he will hug you when you get there."  This mama near lost information technology.  That is one special acquit going to one special male child somewhere.

These are some other items to consider putting in your box later on yous take added the 5 things above:

1. A Letter of the alphabet

Bug wrote letters for a few of our boxes this twelvemonth.  He said, "Mama, I don't think I can write eleven letters."  I told him to write every bit many as he idea he could.   He ended upward with 3 going to three 5-nine year onetime boys.  Y'all tin include your address in the letter and they may write back.  I got a letter back from one when I was a kid.  And a couple years agone I included letters and received a respond from the pastor of the church in Uganda where my boxes went.  I thought that was very nice.

You tin also include a picture of yourself, your child or your whole family.

2. A "Wow" Item

That is Samaritan's Handbag's term for the item placed at the peak of the box that the kid first sees.  To a higher place I mention a stuffed toy.  Simply I always endeavor to fit in ane more WOW item.  For younger boys this is ordinarily a ball or a smalltruck.  For younger girls, a doll or a jump rope.  I too try to fit a small boxed puzzle in each i.  I stay away from "characters" that they likely have no idea who they are and stick to puzzles with animals or something like that.Yo-yos are practiced to include.  Stay abroad from card games with hard rules that they can't read.  Samaritan's Pocketbook says a deck of playing cards is ok to include so I stick to standard playing cards from which many games can be played instead of something similar Former Maid or Crazy 8's where they have to know the rules to play.  Older boys would like aflashlight with extra batteries.  Older girls would also enjoy a jump rope.

3. Cups, Bowls and Spoons

I think I have added sippy cups to 2-4 boxes earlier but this is the first yr I've done bowls and spoons besides.  Dollar Tree had the larger bowls in the picture above in 2 packs for $i. I but included i per box.  The plastic infant spoons were 10 in pack for $1 at Dollar Tree.  I put 2 per box – that means 5 boxes got spoons and it only cost me $1.

The sippy cup also came from Dollar Tree and went in a two-4 box.  The little turtle on the left is a snack bowl with a lid.  They came ii to a pack with a spoon for $1 at the Dollar Tree also.  I put one bowl and the spoon in a box and put the second bowl in another with spoons from the other pack of spoons.

I promise the children who receive these volition enjoy having their ain items to eat and drink out of!

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If you're interested in learning more on packing a shoebox, check out the details on the Samaritan'south Bag website here.

National Drove Week 2015 for shoebox gifts is Nov 16 to 23 .Nosotros all know these simple gifts provide much more than than fleeting moments of joy. With each gift, Operation Christmas Child shares the good news that Jesus loves every kid.

If you need to find a driblet-off location for your boxes, you can find those here!

And I would totally recommend checking out the "Follow your Box" option then yous can see where your boxes stop upwards!   Here are the places my boxes have gone:

• Uganda (2011)
• Madagascar (2012)
• Dominican Democracy (2012)
• Gabon (2013)
• Republic of botswana (2013)
• Chad (2014)

Be certain to follow my Functioning Christmas Child Pinterest Board for year-round inspiration!

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Source: https://savingtowardabetterlife.com/2015/11/5-things-every-operation-christmas-child-shoebox-needs-a-few-good-suggestions/

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