Barnyard Themed Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for a Boy Ages 2-4 Years Old

Sometimes when we  win or earn gift cards online for shopping for shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, we use it to "splurge" on an item that might cost more than we normally budget for that type of item.  Such was the case with the cow blocks/puzzle I built this farm themed box around.

It was a great Wow item-16 about inch square blocks, brightly decorated so as to make up 9 different far scene puzzles (pig, cow, rooster, etc) by Melissa & Doug.  However it was a bit big, so there was concerns as to how it would fit, especially as when I do a theme box 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:

• Hygiene supplies (soap & case; toothbrush; washcloth; comb)

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!

Removing Packaging to Fit In a Go Box through Operation Christmas Child

One of the things I struggle with when packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is being able to send everything I would like to in the box.  In the past I've sometimes packed larger boxes, but the more I've learned the more I realized the importance of using normal sized boxes, the more I worked on learning more ways to get things to fit.  One of the biggest things I've learned is to remove packaging.  This also helps reduce trash int he receiving countries (which often don't have good infrastructure), and opening tricky containers

If you left all the items above in their packaging, they'd fill the giant silver boot box...which is a bit too big!  I'm not even sure the big box would fit in the shipping carton.

Here's what went in from the different categories:

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Girl - 2017

Here is one of the boxes my mom packed this year for a 2-4 girl through Operation Christmas Child.  

If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on OCC shoeboxes from this year for: Boy 2-4 , Girl 5-9, 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):

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 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:

How to Pack a FULL OCC Go Box for a 10-14 Year Old Girl

One problem I run into when packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, is how to fit in everything I want to send.  A shoebox just doesn't seem to hold everything I want to give to the child.  Over the years I've learned some things to help me fit more things in, and love testing to figure out new ways to make things fit.  So I thought I'd share some things I've learned in case it could help someone else!  You can see in the photo at left everything I got in this one box.  Here's a list of what fit in (in no particular order):

1. Pencils-14
2. Puzzle

How to Pack More into Less Space in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox ~ Guest Post

One of my greatest "trials" in packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes is fitting in everything I want to send-lol! So, I'm always trying to figure out how to get one more thing in. I love to hear other's ideas on the subject, and as there doesn't seem to be much out there on fitting more in OCC GO shoeboxes, I decided to start a series of posts on it. The first is a guest post I asked Amy Lukens to write!

How to Pack More into Less

You Really Can Fit a Lot into the Preprinted Boxes.

By Amy Lukens

Just as any of you reading this, packing shoeboxes is my passion. I am an Operation Christmas Child Area Coordinator in the Upper Midwest Region and have been packing shoeboxes for over 15 years. Lots of practice and natural spatial awareness have helped me to figure out ways to pack a lot in a little shoebox.

Before I go any further, I want to point out that this is how I pack my boxes. It is not the “right” way to pack. God has placed certain items on my heart to pack or not pack. He may have placed different items on your heart and that is perfect. The shoeboxes go to a variety of children with different needs and wants. Also I do pack mostly in OCC’s Preprinted boxes, but I will also pack a slightly larger box if needed. Certain items like teenage boy’s tennis shoes will not fit into the Preprinted boxes no matter how much you try. I will pack a little larger box such as a 6qt plastic box if necessary.

Here is how I pack my shoeboxes:

1. Remove packaging!

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packed for 10-14 Year Old Boy

It's been a busy week with packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I thought I'd share what my dad would pack in a GoBox for a 10-14 year old boy.   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 years, Girl 10-14 years, & Boy 10-14 years...as the middle range 5-9 gets the most boxes, we chose to do the other ages this year.

It took some careful packing but he was able to get all of the items pictured into the pre-printed "Go box" in the picture. Now, if you don't have an Operation Christmas Child GoBox, that's no problem-any shoebox (cardboard or plastic) or something of the same size (normal box, new tool box, etc). This year we packed in traditional shoeboxes, plastic shoeboxes, as well as a GoBox. Check out more about pros and cons of different boxes in this post:  What Type of Shoebox to Pack for Operation Christmas Child.

First I'll share a list of what went into it, then I'll share how it was packed!  Remember this is just an example, other boxes substituted Legos for the game, or added a flashlight, or other variations.  We try to make no two boxes exactly alike!

What went into this shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies:

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Boy

It's been a busy week with packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I thought I'd share what my aunt packed in a box for a 2-4 year old boy.  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, Girl 10-14 years, & Boy 10-14 years...as the middle range 5-9

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Girl

It's been a busy week with packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I thought I'd share what my mom packed in one box.  It was for a 2-4 year old girl.  If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on boxes from this year for: Boy 2-4 years, Girl 10-14 years, & Boy 10-14 years...as the middle range 5-9 gets the most boxes, we chose to do the other ages this year.

It took some careful planning and packing but I was able to get all of the items pictured into the pre-printed "Go box" in the picture.  Packing in standard sized boxes, especially the pre-printed boxes helps them get a lot of shoeboxes in each carton they send out and they're more sure they'll have enough for the kids that show up at the distributions. But remember-if you don't have an Operation Christmas Child Go box any shoebox sized box: shoebox, plastic box, even a traditional box will work!  See the pros and cons of different shoeboxes here:  What Type of Box to Use.  First I'll share a list of what went into it, then I'll share how it was packed.

What went into the shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies:

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 10-14 Year Old Girl

It's been a busy week with packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I thought I'd share share one shoebox I packed.  It was for a 10-14 year old girl.   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 years, & Boy 10-14 years...as the middle range 5-9 gets the most boxes, we chose to do the other ages this year.

It took some careful planning and packing but I was able to get all of the items pictured into the pre-printed "Go box" in the picture.  Packing in standard sized boxes, especially the pre-printed boxes helps them get a lot of boxes in each carton they send out and they're more sure they'll have enough for the kids that show up at the distributions.  I wasn't able to pack all my shoeboxes in that size this year, but this one I was and I was happy with how it turned out.  First I'll share a list of what went into it, then I'll share how I packed it with some tips on getting a lot to fit!

What went into this shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies: