It is this time of year again. We are getting festive and cozy and all merry. But I try to remember that not everyone may feel so happy and blessed. For the past years my sister and I have been volunteering with Operation Christmas Child and helping sending off shoe boxes to kids around the world. By now there are several posts about this topic on my blog so I won’t go into too much detail what it is all about.
As soon as the new schedule was released to volunteer again I texted my sister and asked if she is once again on board. We decided again it will stay a sisterly tradition and will not take anyone to join us. I like that we are spending this time together doing something useful. We have enough time to chat on our way there and back. We opted for an early date to kick of the festive season and will be there Friday from 5-9 pm.
As always I am trying to pack some shoeboxes myself. I started buying for three kids and so three boxes it is. Only later did I realize. I won’t have the. car and we have to go there by public transport. I almost wished I had done two boxes. But here we are. Three kids.
Packing a shoe box for age 5-9
I decided again to pack two boxes for the age of 5-9. I personally dont really like that you need to buy for girl or boy. I am trying to steer clear of the gender blue-pink trap but it is not so easy. I added some more gender things in the end.
Here is my box for a little boy.
I packed the following items:
- playmobil figurines – a pizza baker
- bouncy ball
- coloring book
- paper dress up dinosaur
- coloring pencils
- rainbow pen
- box of paints with brush
- glue stick
- paper clips in airplane form
- roll of Christmas washi tape
- toothbrush
- bandaids
- magic towel
- bar of soap
- cozy socks
- pirate tattoos
The boys box cost me around 14€ in total. Total value is higher as I added a few things I was given for photo shoots (tattoos, dress up doll, paper clips) and could use as my liking afterwards.
Here is my box for a little girl.
This box included the same items as the boys box with additional:
- playmobil figurines – a circus artist
- bouncy ball
- coloring book
- paper dress up rabbit
- coloring pencils
- rainbow pen
- box of paints with brush
- glue stick
- paper clips in unicorn form (not pictured)
- roll of Christmas washi tape
- toothbrush
- bandaids
- magic towel
- bar of soap
- cozy socks
- hair pins and elastics
The girls box cost me around 16€. Total value is higher as I added a few things I was given for photo shoots (dress up doll, paper clips) and could use as my liking afterwards.
Packing a shoe box for age 10-14
Just like last year I also decided to pack a box for a teenage girl. Here is what went into the box:
- soft warm scarf
- cosmetic bag
- perfume
- nail polish
- deodorant
- hand cream
- magic towel
- tooth brush
- note book
- pastel textmarker
- Christmas washi tape
- horse paper clip (not pictured)
This box cost me around 25 €. I added hand cream washi tape and horse paper clip from my stash that have been gifts I don’t need.
I am really happy how this year’s boxes turned out. Even. though. I forgot to get some tooth paste. But oh well. It is what its is.
Now let me know: Do you volunteer? Have you ever packed a shoe box? Any further ideas I could include next year? Which package would you like to get?
Previous Posts on Operation Christmas Child
10 comments
Yay, I’m back on my computer and I can comment again. Your boxes have a great selection of items. I’m sure they will bring a smile to some children’s faces. And what a lovely tradition to share with your sister. I usually have at least one volunteer role happening (with a little break through COVID). When the kids were younger we did the boxes with them for a few years. They would fill a box for a child who was their age.
It’s a great way to include kids packing boxes. I like doing it since I don’t buy kids stuff ever so it’s a nice thing for me once a year.
And I do love the tradition my sister and I have started.
Those boxes are lovely (and I’m a bit jealous you can include liquids like cream and nail polish; we can’t even send hard candy anymore, or toothpaste!).
We packed two boxes this year (I think we did three last year). We do one for a 10-12-year-old girl (to make my daughter’s demographic), and one 5-9 (to match my son’s demographic. Our church packed about 150 boxes in total I think, and it’s a great annual tradition!
Oh that is a bummer. They told us this year no candy that is why I haven’t included any and it feels a bit sad. Last year at least there was lots of shower gel and shampoo. I try to do soap bars now as they won’t leak. For now we are allowed liquids.
I love that we are fellow box packers.
What is a magic towel? I need to know! Do I need a magic towel? (I’m certain I do.)
Would it be appropriate to add to the teen box some sanitary products (panty liners or tampons)? I mean, it’s not really festive, but maybe it would be appreciated? I LOVE the box for the teen girl – it’s exactly the kind of thing I would have loved. A notebook and washi tape! Sign me up!
I haven’t tried a magic towel but once received one. It’s basically a very tight packed thin towel that once wet unfolds.
I added sanitary products last year and just forgot to y them this year. I know tampons can be so expensive for a teenager.
What a lovely tradition! Prior to COVID, I delivered Meals on Wheels to home bound seniors for almost 11 years. They changed their process and now I can’t fit the food in my car anymore, so I haven’t delivered in a long time. I give them a monthly donation instead.
My Christmas gifts are to a local foster youth organization, and a group that helps homeless folks. In both cases, I receive a wish list for a specific person, and I go buy the items and wrap them up. It can be expensive, but it makes me feel good and like I’m doing SOMETHING to help others in need.
I like that you are able to shop for a specific person. In one way it’s probably easier since you know what they really want and need. But yeah it could be expensive I guess.
I was wondering if you’d blog about this Christmas project again. I love that you participate every year. I have donated things to the homeless shelter in Sacramento, but have never packed individual boxes.
They do have a “gifts from the heart” project at work where you buy for foster kids and the elderly. Unfortunately, the last few years, it was a bit “impersonal” (because of the pandemic) because you just picked things from an Amazon list… but I still love the idea behind it.
P.S. I noticed that you put the NaBloPoMo Logo in your sidebar! I love it :) I should do this too.
I can understand that just ordering of the Amazon’s list feels a bit wrong.
Maybe you can find another project that is more personal.