Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 5-9 Year Old Boy- 2018

I enjoy packing sheoboxes for kids around the world through Operation Christmas Child and I like looking at photos of shoeboxes others have packed, so I'm sharing some of mine.  This is one I packed for a 5-9 year old boy.  OCC requests that we use normal sized shoeboxes, this one is right around the size of the old GO box-about 300 cubic inches.  I was happily surprised at how much I could fit in with the large stuffed animal!

If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on OCC shoeboxes from 2018 for: Girl 2-4, Boy 2-4, Girl 5-9, Girl 10-14, & 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 shoeboxes due to customs. 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 Toothbrush 
• Soap
• Soap case 
• Washcloth
• Comb 
• School Supplies:
• Pens
• 1-Red
• 1-Blue
• 1-Black
• Pencils
• 3-regular
• 5-decorative 
• Sharpener
• Eraser  
• Spiral notebook 
• Mini composition book
• Ruler
• Kids Answers Magazine
• Magnifying glass
• Art Supplies:
• Crayons
• Multi colored pencil
• Stickers
• Large coloring book
• Pad of plain paper 
• Cars Maze
• Practical items: 
• Pencil bag
• Whistle
• Clothes:
• Hat
• Socks
• Bandanna
• Toys 
• To play noisily or others
• Frog hopper game
• Marbles
• Card game
• Ball  
• Frisbees
• Jump Rope
• Flute
• To play with quietly alone
• Hotwheels type car
• Prism viewer
• Top
• Animal figurines
• Lenticular card
• To "love"
• Stuffed dog** 
• Personal correspondence (not pictured)
• Family photo 
• Letter

I know sometimes one of the hard things of packing shoeboxes is making things fit, and people have found it helpful to see how I've packed in the past, so here's a video of me un-packing it to show how it fit.

Penguin Themed Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for a Girls

One of my favorite themes when shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is penguins.  I don't know why, maybe because I have a few times (you can see past penguin themed shoeboxes here) and I like traditions. :)   I actually ended up doing two in 2017.  This was the main one, for a 10-14 year old girl.

Here's some photos  of how  I got it to fit including the little tin that I made into a hygiene/hair fun things kit.

When we make a themed Operation Christmas Child shoebox, we don't leave out anything on our basic packing list-I still put in hygiene, school, and art supplies, clothing, whistle, etc as well as toys (including a ball and stuffed animal) with a family photo.  We just try to find versions of what we are putting in that goes with the theme and occasionally an extra item or two.

I also had found so much stuff, I packed a 5-9 girl box as well...don't have it photographed as well, but here's a look to give you an idea.

For more ideas/fun boxes, check out other shoeboxes we packed for girls or our themed boxes!

Dollar Tree Easter Duck/Chick Themed Shoebox

I recently got the chance to shop at Dollar Tree for items to fill an Operation Christmas Child shoebox as I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.  But, my opinions are my own.

When I went to look at Easter Crafts, Supplies, and More At Dollar Tree I found lots of cute and fun things to make a themed shoebox.  When I was little I really liked ducks, so I decided to do a theme box of ducks/chicks/Easter.  When I make a themed Operation Christmas Child shoebox, I don't leave

Train Themed Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for a Boy Ages 5-9

When I pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, I like to try to make them as personal as possible so even if I pick a good number, I don't lose sight of the individual child for whom I'm packing it.  One way I try to make them personal is through themes.  This was a very special theme one I did this, trains for a boy between 5 & 9 years of age.

It all started when I found a battery operated train set, new in package at a thrift store for $1.  I sent a couple sets of batteries, but I think it'll still be fun after the batteries run out.  Then I made a theme out of it!  I had quite a bit of fun with it!   I had a crocheted hat that looked like conductor colors, then found an actual toy conductor hat!  My mom made a Simple Lined Drawstring Bag out of train cloth that I used as a pencil case.  I also had a train whistle and a plastic whistle shaped like a train.  I used a normal shoebox-found one that the train fit just right in the bottom of.   It was 350 cubic inches compared to a cardboard OCC GO Box that is 306, so pretty close in size.  Plus, I was able to use wrapping paper that had trains on it along with some cars.

 This theme was special to me as over the years our family history is pretty full of trains!  I don't think we have any engineers, but have, over the generations, had brakemen, linemen, conductors, workers in the shops-including a master mechanic, and someone who owned land that had stations built on it.  I was trying to decide on a stuffed animal and I found this Irish/St Patrick's Day bear-PERFECT since the first train worker in our family was an Irish immigrant who built train lines, and I doubled down on it with Irish Spring soap-haha!

Often people find it helpful to see how I pack the box to fit everything in, so here's some photos of that...plus a cute train from the wrapping paper.

For more ideas/fun boxes, check out other shoeboxes we packed for 5-9 boys or our themed boxes!

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 5-9 Year Old Boy- 2017

This was a really fun Operation Christmas Child shoebox for me to pack this year for an 5-9 year old boy.  Early in the year I found a racing themed coloring book for 50 cents, and so began a theme!  I do love themed boxes...see more of my themed boxes here.  This shoebox was 382 inches cubed, for comparison, a GO box is 306 inches cubed, so it's reasonably close in size.  I wanted a wrapped on since I had Cars wrapping paper.

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, Girl 10-14, & 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
• Toothbrush case
• Soap
• Soap case 
• Washcloth
• Truck Bandages
• Comb 
• School Supplies:
• Pens
• 1-Red
• 1-Blue
• 1-Black
• Pencils
• 5-regular
• 3-decorative 
• Sharpener
• Small decorative erasers
• Eraser  
• Spiral notebook 
• Tape measure
• Art Supplies:
• Crayons
• Stickers
• Large coloring book
• Pad of plain paper 
• Cars Maze
• Practical items: 
• Pencil bag
• Drawstring backpack *
• Water bottle
• Clothes:
• Gloves
• Flipflops
• Swim Goggles
• Cars Ring
• Toys 
• To play noisily or others
• 3 Race-car themed Hotwheels 
• Frog hopper game
• Marbles
• Racing Peg game
• Balls
• Mini 
• Inflatable 
• Fun-house 
• Frisbees
• Whistle
• Mini Apples-to-Apples game
• To play with quietly alone
• Race go kart**
• 6 Race driver/crew figures
• 3 Dinosaur figurines 
• 1 Turtle figurine
• Cars keychain
• Cars top
• To "love"
• Stuffed Bear with goggles and scarf like an old time car driver** 
• Personal correspondence (not pictured)
• Family photo 
• Letter

I know sometimes one of the hard things of packing shoeboxes is making things fit, so here's some photos I took of how it all packed in the box.

I thought the back of the coloring book was neat-it was a fold out sticker scene, but also kind of fit the Hotwheel-haha!

Here are more examples of 5- 9 boy boxes we've packed.

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 5-9 Year Old Girl - 2017

We don't often pack many Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for girls age 5-9, because that's the group that gets the most boxes packed for it, but this year we did pack a few, and here's one my sister packed.  You can see lots of handmade goodies in this one that others shared with us!

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, Boy 5-9, Girl 10-14, & 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:
• Toothbrush
• Toothbrush case
• Soap
• Soap case 
• Washcloth
• Comb 
• School Supplies:
• Pens
• 1-Red
• 1-Blue
• 1-Black
• Pencils
• 2-regular
• 2-decorative 
• Sharpener
• Eraser  
• Composition book
• Protractor
• Tape measure
• Art Supplies:
• Markers
• Large coloring book
• Pad of plain paper 
• Spirograph type tool
• Practical items: 
• Mini blanket 
• Small bag
• Small crocheted purse
• Outfit**:
• Dress
• Bracelet
• Hair pins
• Lace for hair
• Cars Ring
• Toys 
• To play noisily or others
• Ball
• Whistle
• Mini Apples-to-Apples game
• Hotwheel
• Maraca
• Mini Clacker
• To play with quietly alone
• Gorilla 3D puzzle
• BB maze
• Top
• Mini Turtle
• Mini dinosaurs 
• Cow Keychain 
• Special
• Rose
• To "love"
• Stuffed animal** 
• Personal correspondence (not pictured)
• Family photo 

I know sometimes one of the hard things of packing shoeboxes is making things fit, so here's some photos I took of how it all packed in the box.

Here are more examples of 5- 9 girl boxes we've packed.

Last Minute Shoebox

What do you do when you realize your church is going to drop off 499 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at drop-off centers during collection week? Well, if you're really into organization/evenness you and your sister pack one more the night before you go to volunteer at a drop-off center to make it an even 500!

Thankfully we had some extras left from last year, plus some things we'd started picking up for next year, it worked out just fine packing from our shoebox stockpile.  We went through our packing list and were able to get things from all categories, and end up with a nice, full, fun box...I like every box to be great, and I feel it lived up to our standards, even though it wasn't planned!

This shoebox ended up being for a 5-9 boy so we could use the water shoes we'd got at Dollar General this week for $0.10.  Check out other 5-9 boy boxes we've packed!

Territory and State Themed Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child

There was a challenge on Shoebox Shoppers page on Facebook to pack "10 for Texas" Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.  In addition to donating to relief organizations, it gave us something personal to do to help those packers affected Hurricane Harvey-some had their boxes or packing supplies destroyed-to pack boxes in their place (they won't get these boxes, Samaritan's Purse is helping there in other ways).  Then came Irma, and packers in Florida were affected, and while I haven't heard first hand, I'm sure Puerto Rico won't be able to pack many, if any, boxes this year.  So, I decided it would make it a more personal way of supporting those in those states and territory if I packed one box themed around that location.  I posted on my Simply Shoeboxes Facebook page for ideas.  I was able to find almost enough in our stash to pack the themes, my mom and sister sewed a couple things and I bought one or two things, but on the whole, it was just carefully selecting from the supplies we had on hand.  Then came the California wildfires and accounts of packers forced from their homes and churches with shoeboxes in them threatened with flames...so I packed one for them, too!  Unfortunately, we'd already packed a lot of our boxes by then, so had less to pick from, but I think it turned out good, too! When I do a theme box, what that means, while I stick to my normal list of things to include, I try to find versions of those items that fit the theme.  I may add an extra unique item or two, but on the whole it's the same list, just different types.  My basic list for those interested is:

Example of an OCC Shoebox for a 5-9 Year Old Girl - 2016

Here's an Operation Christmas Child shoebox we packed for a 5-9 year old girl this year.    This shoebox was 342 inches cubed, for comparison, a GO box is 306 inches cubed, so it's pretty close in size. 

If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on boxes from this year for: Girl 2-4 years,   Boy 2-4, Boy 5-9, Girl 10-14, & Boy 10-14.

NOTE:  Different countries have different restrictions on what can be packed in an OCC shoebox due to customs, and 2016 is the last year for candy in the USA.  Be sure to check the guidelines from your national organization before packing!

What went into the shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies:

Example of an OCC Shoebox for a 5-9 Year Old Boy - 2016

Here's an Operation Christmas Child shoebox we packed for a 5-9 year old boy this year.  This one we packed in an OCC GO box, we use a variety of types of shoeboxes.  

If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on boxes from this year for: Girl 2-4 ,   Boy 2-4, Girl 5-9, Boy 5-9, Girl 10-14, & Boy 10-14.

NOTE:  Different countries have different restrictions on what can be packed in an OCC shoebox due to customs, and this is the last year for candy in the USA.  Be sure to check the guidelines from your national organization before packing!

What went into the shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies:

Hello Kitty Themed Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

My Hello Kitty themed Operation Christmas Child shoebox began with free band-aids from a CVS deal and a free toothbrush from a coupon.  The fun thing is I have only paid for the shirt ($1) and the socks (20 cents) so far.  I will be adding a few more things, but the total should still be only a few dollars.

My husband had found these shirts for $1 last fall and I decided I'd make skirts to match them.  The flower fabric was donated by Red Thread Stitches and the trim and gingham fabric came from my mother-in-law's stash.  I chose this fabric