Quality Crafts for Operation Christmas Child March Item of the Month

We like to include quality crafts in our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and are glad to see it included in the OCC Item of the Month list for March.  Over the years we have included sewn, crocheted, knit, upcycled, no-sew, paper crafts and more.  We work to make them quality items the children receiving them can enjoy.

These are items I crafted for a shoebox a while ago.

We often share crafting ideas and patterns through this site and on social media.  You can follow us on the following sites to keep up with all of our shoebox packing including sharing crafts:

• Simply Shoeboxes Facebook
• Simply Shoeboxes YouTube
• Simply Shoeboxes Pinterest

We have written dozens of craft tutorials for items perfect to pack in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift.  You can find all of them by clicking the image below.

We offer tutorials in the following categories if you would rather just check them out individually:

• Crochet DIY
• Sewing DIY
• No-Sew DIY
• Upcycling DIY

You may also like to check out more things I've made for my OCC shoeboxes here:  Made by Cheryl.

Two other places we like to check for OCC Shoebox craft ideas:

• Crafting for Shoeboxes Facebook page
• Crafting for Shoeboxes Pinterest

We also receive handcrafted items from friends at opposite ends of the country:

Chelle & Vicki, from Chelle's Caybees in NC
Suzanne, from Sew Delightful in WA

If you've never considered handcrafted items to pack in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, you may want to check into it this year.  It's a great excuse to get a group of friends together to craft.

You can also donate handcrafted items directly to OCC as fillers.  So if you find yourself crafting more than you can pack, find out more thru this link: Five Ways to Donate Fillers to Operation Christmas Child.

Collecting Games for Shoeboxes Poster

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for September, that's games!  As readers have found collection posters we've made for other shoebox items helpful to share with friends, family, church members, co-workers or fellow apartment building residents.  Here's what I came up with for games.  Feel free to share however it can help with your shoeboxes.  First, here's one to share if everyone knows where to drop the items off.

Also, made one with a blank to put in drop off info:

If you like this poster, you may want to check out our other collection posters.

PLEASE NOTE:  These posters are made based on USA rules, they may include items not allowed in your country's packing requirements. 

School Supplies for Shoeboxes Collection Poster

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for August, that's School supplies!  School supplies are so important as in many countries they are required to attend school.  I thought maybe a collection poster might be helpful to collect them from friends, congregation members, etc.  So, here's what I came up with.  Feel free to print it out, share online, etc. as needed to get more school supplies for shoeboxes.

If you like this poster, you may want to check out our other collection posters.

June Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Toys

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for June, that's toys!  These are such fun items to pick out and pack in a shoebox!!!  I often, in my mind try to sort toys between active/moving ones like jump ropes to work off energy with, and quieter ones like a BB maze they can use to play with in quite times-and send at least one of each.   

While it's easy to think of toys as sheer frivolous fun items.  I recently read a couple articles about the importance of toys to the development of children.  One was about the improvement of the school environment in a school in India.   Another was in The Guardian about a study that showed children learn best though 8 years old by play.  So, while we often view toys as unnecessary or just fun, they may actually help the child develop...and be fun! 😀  As my mom used to say, "Play is a child's work."  

Here are some great stories of how much toys meant to some children who received shoeboxes.

• David -and- A Toy Car (actually led to career choice)
• Vladimir -and- The Toy Car
• Désiré -and- The Yo-yo
• Kojo -and- A Yo-yo
• Nanor -and- A Doll
• Denis -and- A Cowboy
• Nadia -and- A Doll
• Alina -and- A Music Box

Photos Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.

If you want some ideas of toys, here's what we collected in 2018:

If you would like advertise for toy donations, check out  our: Toys for Shoeboxes Collection Poster

October Item of the Month for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes ~ Personal communication

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for October that is personal communication.  This can be various things, a long handwritten letter, a signed Christmas card, a printed letter, a photo, etc.  Or some combination of those things.  Personally this year I think I'm going to include a typed letter and photo, and sign a card, maybe with a short note related to what is in that specific box.  Like "I hope you like butterflies, I packed this box with lots because my Aunt C likes them", etc.

I've heard that often one of the first thing a child looks for is to see who the box is from.  Some of these children may live in orphanages, and while some orphanages are great, not all are, or there may just be too many kids!  You may be the only person who has done something personal to make that child feel special!  I want them to have a face and a name to feel loved!

A simple start would be to just include the photo Christmas Card you're sending to friends & family, but a letter is great, too!  If you'd like some ideas of how to get started/what to write, check out my post: Tips on Writing a Letter to Include in Your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox.  If you're packing with your kids, Samaritan's Purse, offers this Coloring Page/Letter combo that they might enjoy doing!  There is also a chance you may hear back if you include your contact info, I've heard back via post and email, others have been contacted via Facebook.  Sometimes they know someone through school, church, or their parents work with internet access and can contact you, which is cheaper for them then international mail.  My understanding is some sending countries discourage sending postal addresses for security reasons, but here in the USA we can do so.  Now for some inspiration to get working on those notes!

• Yuri -and- A Photo
• Anabel -and- A Personal Note
• Azima -and- A Handwritten Note
• Emelissa -and- A Letter

Photos Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.

September Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Games

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for September that means games!  How fun!  Be sure to check your sending country regulations, because I think some countries due to specific recipient countries have limits on traditional playing cards, dice, and/or dominoes, but from the USA all of those are find and I've sent them.

One thing I really like about games is that they can be shared, and bring people together.  Some of my fondest memories of time with extended family is around a game or puzzle.

Operation Christmas Child shared the following story on their Facebook page in 2013: 
“My 11-yr-old stepson received a Christmas box. He received a lot of goodies and other presents. Among them was an UNO game. Every night, we gather for dinner and after that play UNO. What makes me happier is that my 22-yr-old daughter used to have dinner in her room, and barely shared with us. Thanks to the unknown donor, she comes out every evening, has dinner and playes with us. I pray for all of you, thank the Lord for people like you and especially bless that special person who maybe didn’t know that s/he was helping a family in Panama to get closer and pray together.” 

I try to pick simpler games, ones that are common around the world, and/or ones that contain things I think would be easy to make up one's own game for.  Often there are people at the distributions who can help the kids learn how to use them, but just in case not, I try to go simpler.

If you're worried about how to fit a puzzle in your box without taking up too much room, check out my recent post: Fitting a puzzle in an OCC Go Shoebox.

If' you'd like to craft a game, we have DIY instructions for a few different options:

• Memory & Matching Game Scrap Fabric Tutorial
• DIY Travel Checkers Game with Drawstring Bag
• DIY Travel Tic-Tac-Toe Game Tutorial (or Noughts & Crosses)
• Tic-Tac-Toe Game from Upcycled Greeting Cards

Both of the tic-tac-toe DIY instructions, also have printable instructions on how to play to send with the game.

Photos Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.

August Item of the Month for OCC~ School Supplies

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing  Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for August it's school supplies...which works out really well since there are so many great deals on them right now!

While this may seem like a more boring, practical item to us, one recipient said: 

“My favorite items in my shoebox were school supplies. They were really important to me because it meant I could go to school.”

–Luis, Panama
In many countries children cannot go to school without supplies, which their parents cannot always afford.  So, you may really be giving schooling to the child

July Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Clothing

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for July that is clothing.  Here in the USA, we can send any article of clothing we want, as long as it doesn't make the child look like a soldier (so, a green camouflage shirt is out).  I think the UK is only allowed to send certain things, so be sure to check your country's regulations before you send something!

“One of my favorites in my shoebox was white socks because in the orphanage you get bad quality socks that always stink and have holes in them.”

–Timur, Central Asia (OCC website)
Clothing can be quite useful, often these children don't have shoes or only torn clothes.  While this may be one of the more useful/practical items sent, it can also

May Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Hygiene Items

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for May it is Hygiene items.  This is one of the things you can put in your OCC shoebox that can have an immediate and great impact on the health of the children who get our boxes.  Hand washing can help prevent many diseases including those that kill thousands of children worldwide daily.  That bar of soap & wash cloth you put in might help the child who gets it and their family avoid infection.  Oral hygiene can protect teeth, increasing the verity of food the child can eat, and help their overall nutrition and health.  Even though in USA we can't send toothpaste anymore, we can send toothbrushes, and dentists say that is what is really important. So, will you consider adding hygiene items to your box this year?  It might literally save the life of the child who gets it!  

And, while maybe not lifesaving, items like combs, brushes, and stick (not liquid)

April Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Stuffed Animals

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for April that is stuffed animals!  That is one of my favorite things to put in a shoebox...they're SO cute!!  We actually pack them in every shoebox, if you want to know why, check out our post: "Why we pack Stuffed Animals in all our Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes."  Samaritan's Purse has shared a number of stories of kids who were really excited about their stuffed animal (or doll, but they're pretty close):

•  Denis -and- A Cowboy
• Yuliya -and- A Puppy
• Nanor -and- A Doll
• Luis -and- A Lamb

While stuffed animals are a GREAT item to include, they can be one of the more

March Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Quality Crafts

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for March that is Quality Crafts!  This is a great way to add items to shoeboxes.  

Many "crafters" have a stash of supplies they can whip up a few projects at little to no cost.  We've been able to use some crafting supplies from my late grandmother's stash to make Aunt Ida Hats and pencil bags among other things.  

You can also make kits for the child to craft from.  I used some extra yarn and beads to make jewelry making kits to send in my 10-14 year old girl shoeboxes.

It is also a great way to get others involved...we are blessed to have Chelle's CayBees and Sew Delightful partner with us by creating things for us to put in our

February Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Accessories

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for February it is accessories...like jewelry, watches, hair bows, etc.  These are fun extras to add to a box.  They often don't take up much room, so can be a fun way to add more items in the limited space of an OCC shoebox!

Accessories can be on the more practical side-sunglasses, watches, headbands to keep hair out of the way or toward the more fun side like jewelry.  As a child accessories can make one feel special

January Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Hats, Gloves & Scarves

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child, and for January that is Hats, gloves and scarves.

Now, many people are concerned about sending these items as they aren't sure if their boxes will be going to a country that seems cold to us like the Ukraine, or one that seems hot to us like Uganda.  There's a couple things to keep in mind about this:

1. There are times of year in most countries that feel cold to those who live there.  We knew people who were missionaries in Chad, Africa, and the nationals sometimes got cold/sick in the "winter" season.
2. I remember a story my dad tells about an exchange student who was visiting Ohio in summer from the Caribbean.  They were at a church softball