OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 7/21/2018 ~ Summer Clearance and Such

This week's shoebox shopping got of too a good start when I found some fun stuff at Hobby Lobby for 80% off

Next day I stopped at Dollar Tree to pick up the pencil sharpeners we like to use for our shoeboxes-often they're harder to find closer to shoebox packing time, so got what I needed now-if you can't find them in your store, they are available to purchase online and possibly pick up for free in the store. (affiliate link-I'll be compensated if you purchase after clicking on it)

Also stopped at a Mighty Dollar to get the rest of the balls we needed for our boxes, plus the whistles were buy 1 get 3 free, so got some of those!

Finally, I got a code for penny prints at Walgreens so got 25 (the limit) of those for our shoeboxes.  Plus the pencil cases they had on sale for half off-which I plan to use to make Pencil Granny Filler Packs like last year.

Spent from shoebox packing budget: $33.12  

Saved $62.95 or 65%

Saved thru clearance Hobby Lobby Clearance:  $45.47 
Saved through B1G3 deals: $3
Saved through Walgreen's photo discount code: $8 
Saved through Walgreen's Sale:  $6.50  

This post contained an affiliate link and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, this helps me afford the time to write this blog and keep up the Facebook page.  But, I only share affiliate links for items I think would be good for shoeboxes, and fellow shoebox packers.  Most the time it will be things I've personally reviewed or packed.

OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 7/14/2018 ~ Dollar General Deals and more

I had a pretty good week-was able to get most of the remaining school supplies we needed!!  Dollar General was having some back-to-school sales, plus $5 off when you spent $15, which made for an even better deal, here's what I was able to get at a few different stores/days.:

I also stopped by Mighty Dollar and picked up a couple things:

Spent from shoebox packing budget: $43.16 

Saved $67.50 or 61%

Saved thru Dollar General sale prices:  $52.50 
Saved through Dollar General $5 off $15 deal: $15 


Plus, I got this photo text from my aunt, she was able to get the crayons we needed:

OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 7/7/2018 ~ Great Deals-Saved 85%

I was able to get some pretty good deals for shoeoxes this week!  First I got some nice clearance at Hobby Lobby-some 66% off summer, plus a couple craft kits more like 95% off!

I went to a thrift store, I was able to get some new games, a math kit whose packaging was pretty messed up and missing a few pieces, but the 4 pieces that were there were really cute and unused, so I'll take them out and send them.  Also, a like new stuffed that I just couldn't pass up-too cute!!

I went to Bargain Hunt-nothing too exciting, but did pick up a few fidget spinners-I know there's some controversy about these, but these ones seemed study, and I'll only put them in the oldest kids boxes.

I stopped at Big Lots to pick up some of the $0.17 notebooks-I was able to use the $5/$15 coupon I'd gotten for signing up to their loyalty program.

Spent from shoebox packing budget: $20.07  
Saved $112.39  or  85%

Saved thru clearance:  $17.13
Saved through Thrift Store special: $1
Saved through Bargain Hunt prices: $6.72
Saved through watching Bargain Hunt % off: $7.84
Saved through Big Lots Back-to-School prices: $74.70 
Saved through Big Lots Coupon:  $5 

OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 6/30/2018 ~ Aunts

 We didn't get any shopping done in the past week, but that doesn't mean our stockpile didn't grow!  Thanks to my aunts, it actually grew quite a bit! :)  First, the aunt who packs with us came for a visit with a stash she'd built up of packing items.

Then I got a box from my other aunt who had called when she found a deal on flip-flops to see if/what kind/how many we needed.  She and my great aunt cut off all the extra packaging, and got them all ready for us to pack!

Finally, I asked a friend if she had any leftover bags from the VBS she was running if I could have them for shoeboxes-she brought me the few that were left.  Then she asked if I had any use for lanyards as they had more of those left.  I said I sure could use them-I have whistles to hang on them if nothing else!  Such colorful and practical items!

Spent from shoebox packing budget: $0

OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 6/16/2018 ~ Tools

We had a really good week for tools/practical items for our 10-14 boy boxes.  First, we had a gift card for Harbor Freight for shoeboxes, so my Dad and I went to check out what they had he wanted for the 10-14 boy boxes he packs.  Thanks to a lot of ideas shared on the Simply Shoeboxes Facebook Page, we had a lot of ideas what to look for!  We planned to pick up a lot of stuff and both check out with 20% off & free item coupons, plus make a plan for what to pick up with future coupons.  We were able to get what we wanted to pick up right away, and leave a good amount left to pick up in the weeks/months ahead as we get coupons.  So much fun stuff:

We like to send work gloves in all our older boxes, and my dad was really excited about the leather ones.  Also some tools-we went with screwdrivers and pliers as they're more universal than say wrenches in metric or standard, and Dad wasn't too thrilled with the hammers.  We got one tool box to pack as a shoebox.  Also some really nice tool bags that we think we'll be able to fit creatively in reasonable sized shoeboxes.  Plus some wooden 3D puzzles-these are really great as 10-14 boy toys were on my "still needed" list and that checked them off, and I wasn't planning on being able to use the gift card value toward that!!

My sister and I ran buy today when out running errands, and what we were planning to buy was only $0.99 this week-and the 20 % off worked on it, so we spent less than $2 from the gift card on all of this.

Then, we stopped at Mighty Dollar, and were able to find some nice, 80# test weight para-cord to send in boxes or as drawstring for our pencil bags. 

I think we're going to have some great 10-14 boy boxes with these practical items, plus the normal, game, toys, stuffed animal, ball, clothing item(s), hygiene, school and art supplies!  I'm really enjoying adding tools to the boxes-probably kind of a replacement for the space candy used to take.  Here's a tool themed box I packed last year.


Spent from shoebox packing budget: $8.54 

Spent from free gift cards: $121.27  

Saved thru Harbor Freight Coupons:  $13.96
Saved by Mighty Dollar Prices over Original: $40

Stories and Advice from Shoebox Distributions in Malawi

On this blog I mostly write about packing, shopping, crafting, etc. for shoeboxes, but I thought it'd be encouraging to share some distribution stories, plus I love to get more ideas and feedback on things to include from first hand reports.  Since I've never been on a distribution, I send questions to those who have.

My name is Debbie Pottorff and I’m the Church Relations Coordinator for the Big Bend / Tallahassee Area (Florida / P.R. Region) My husband, John, and I have been married for decades now and have 5 grown children (complete with grandchildren, children-in-laws, and “bonus” grandchildren).  We’re still both working full time but since the kids are gone (out of the house) our lives would seem a bit empty without our shoebox kids.  John is the leader of the Main Drop-Off location in our Area and since our Area Team is relatively small, we try to help out our Area Coordinators in other roles, as best we can.  We truly believe in the OCC mission, the Great Commission and Matthew 1:8  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  For us, this is the way to live!   Our Area Team has a facebook page:  OCC Tallahassee/Big Bend FL that we'd love to have anyone to "like" and follow and we have a monthly email newletter that can be accessed throught the fb page.

>>When & where did you distribute shoeboxes? 
I was invited to go on a Harvest Vision Trip to Malawi in May of 2018 and I definitely