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:

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!

Removing Packaging when Packing Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

So...have you ever wondered how to get more items in your Operation Christmas Child shoebox?   I think many of us have more things we'd like to send then we can fit.  Well, one good first step is to remove extra packaging.  I mentioned this in a post last year, and gave one example.  But thought I'd share some more info, ideas, etc.

This came to mind recently when I came across this "Lego" type kit on clearance-the box was WAY to big to fit in any shoebox I'd use to send, but I shook it and it felt small inside so I got it-turns out I was right, I slide the instructions and pieces into a small zippered bag and it took up ver little room in the Go Box, you can see it overwhelmed it before.  I may cut the image off the box and tape it in the lid or line the bottom so they can see what it's supposed to be, but as it has instructions I'm not too worried.  Alternatives to a zippered plastic bag would be to buy small purse, pencil case, etc. or you could sew a small drawstring bag or crochet a small drawstring bag as well.

Thanks to Debora Clark photo from processing center

That's obviously one big item, but here's an example of how much room a few smaller items left in packaging can take up.  This is a box that came through the Dallas Processing Center.  Looks like a cute box-toys, hygiene & candy items that we can see, plus lined with tissue paper-supper cute & thoughtful idea.  It even looks pretty full...but if you took those candy canes out of their box and double bagged them, took the doll off the blister pack back, you could fit in even more (& sending more is always one of my goals!! :) ) This also is a good illustration as it shows one thing I might not take out of packaging-toothbrush.  There's no hard and fast rule on this, but personally I wouldn't take it out of packaging unless I had a cap or case to put it in, or maybe if it was a multipack I might put it in a ZipLock type bag, but I don't think I'd send it lose.

Removing packaging is something that I hesitated about doing for some time as I was concerned about it looking new, but I've learned as long as it looks new it's not necessary, and I can fit so much more in, plus they often don't have a good way to throw away trash in other countries.

A few questions I consider when removing packaging:

1. Does it need the packaging (or replacement packaging like a zipper sealed bag, or sewn bag) to keep it in good condition?  Like the toothbrush I mentioned above, or some doll's hair may get rumbled if not tied back
2. Does it need the packaging (or replacement packaging) to keep the other shoebox items safe?  For instance scissors that might open and cut something or toothpaste that might squeeze out.  Or soap, always needs bagged.
3. Does it need the packaging (or replacement packaging) to keep it together, small pieces from being lost (Lego kits, etc.)
4. Does it need the packaging to identify it? Maybe soap or something like that.
5. Does it need the packaging, or at least part of it to explain it.  For instance some games, puzzles, etc.  Most Lego type kits should come with instructions, but some times the packaging can show something else to build with the same pieces.  If it needs only part of the packaging, you can cut it off and send just the needed part, or like I've done with puzzles before, keep the box but tuck other items in.

Unless the answer to one of those questions is yes, and there's not a better replacement packaging, I'd like to encourage you to consider removing it.  I'd like to close with this video I found to be a good illustration of this principle.

You may want to check out our posts in the series:  Making More Fit in Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.  And if are wondering what type of shoebox you can use?  Check out our post:  What Type of Box to Use for Operation Christmas Child.

Reducing Packaging for More Room in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

We are always trying to find more room in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.  I am sure you all do, too.  Sarah recently was working on reducing some packaging on gifts for her girls' boxes.

She cut out the image from the front of the box and included it with the pieces inside a zipper bag.

You can see from the side view how much less space will be used for this toy in the shoebox.  Sorry about the poor quality in these images, not sure why they are so dark and discolored.

Sarah has since written several posts on Making it Fit in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox.  One of the most popular is How to Fit a Spiral Notebook in an OCC Go Box.

What ways have you found to make room in your boxes?