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:
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.
