Tips on Writing a Letter to Include in Your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

An important part of packing an Operation Christmas Child shoebox is a letter to the child.  It helps make the gift more than just "things" but a reminder that they are cared about.  Some recipients are in orphanages and may have no one who "belongs" to them.  We all want to feel special and that we "belong" to someone.  So, this is a great thing to include.  And if at all possible, please include a photo.  It gives them a real connection to you, helps them picture you/know you are a real

An Email Received from a Shoe Box Kid!

If you have a been a reader of Simply Shoe Boxes for long you will remember last fall we put on a spur of the moment packing party with our AWANA kids at church.   We had them fill out these Operation Christmas Child forms as letters to put in their boxes.  Each form has sections to tell a little about yourself.

We included the church's address and an email address in case a child could write back.  This week we received the following email (apparently he was answering the questions that were on the form about himself just like the child who sent it did):

Goodmorning brandon.my name is erick m......I am 25 years.I live in

the Burundi in Afrika.I live in the Bujumbura city.in the city of

buyenzi commune.my favorite:thing to drink is sprint.when I have free

time I like to play football.I love jesus because he takes bad things

a way.I my family,I have:1 brother,5 sisters and 2 pets.GOd bless you

He says he is 25 years old, we are not sure if that is a mistake, if he is writing in response to a sibling's box or if he did get a box.  But we were thrilled to receive a reply to one of our boxes and can't wait to share it with the kids at church.

We've shared in this link Tips on Writing a Letter to Include in Your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox.

Packing Tip ~ Include a Letter & Your Mailing or Email Address in OCC Shoe Box Gifts

When sending an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift be sure to include a personal letter with your return address or email address inside.  Many times a child receiving a shoe box will write those who sent it.


We have gotten several over the years.  Some were children in hospitals and orphanages and like this one I received from Latvia, the young girl and her mother lived with her grandparents. We actually corresponded for a short while.  I can remember that she loved stickers and was learning English in school so corresponding was good practice for her.  Sarah received an email from an older sibling of a recipient of one of her boxes this year.  It included a picture of the girl with her box--that was fun because Sarah could tell just which box this girl received.

Also include a photo of yourself or family.  Those who hand out the shoe boxes say this is often the child's favorite item in the shoe box.  I remember seeing in a video, a young Spanish speaking boy waving the photo from his box and shouting "amigo, amigo."

If you could like some tips on writing a letter check out this post:  Tips on Writing a Letter for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox.