Have you always wanted to donate various Operation Christmas Child ideas to children living in less fortunate conditions, but you have no idea how to do it? Operation Christmas Child is one of the best things you can do to help out and share your blessings to poverty-stricken kids from all over the world.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, a trusted international charity that seeks to aid people who are poor, sick, and suffering all over the world. Operation Christmas Child started out as a seasonal project occurring only during Christmas season, but it is now spread out all throughout the year. In this project, you pack a shoebox with different items that would be later sent to a child in need.
What should the shoebox contain?
This is where our guide comes in. Here, we suggest the best items to include in your Operation Christmas Child ideas for your shoebox!
Three Operation Christmas Child Ideas That Will Wow Them
1. The “wow” item.
Samaritan’s Purse recommends adding an item that would make children say “wow.” You can use dolls, stuffed toys, or clothing to immediately grab the child’s attention when they open their Operation Christmas Child shoebox!
2. School Supplies and Crafts
School supplies are very useful and practical for children already attending school. They could also help out in honing the kids’ skills in arts and crafts! For this, we suggest putting in some crayons, notebooks, pens, and other writing materials.
3. Clothing and Accessories
Kids will surely enjoy receiving articles of clothing and accessories! These include shirts, hats, socks, and gloves, among others. You can also add in some jewelry for children if you want!
You’re also encouraged to create your own crafts, such as small puppets and friendship bracelets. These will add a more personal touch to the shoeboxes that you’re sending to children. You can also write a personal message you want to share with the child. By including your name and address in your message, there may be a chance for the child to write you a letter back. You can even attach a photo of yourself or of your family!
While Samaritan’s Purse appreciates generosity, there are still items that cannot be included in the shoeboxes, such as war-related items (e.g. toy guns, military figures, etc.), food, expired candy, powdered or liquid drinks, any type of liquid, medical supplements or vitamins, fragile and breakable items, and aerosol sprays.
Now that you have an idea of what to put and not to put into your Operation Christmas Child ideas. you should also know where you can find the best deals for the items you’re going to need.
H&J Closeouts offers all of the items you can and should include in your shoeboxes, from “wow” items, school supplies, and clothing and accessories. H&J’s toys and children’s items are great for both boys and girls. At H&J, you can find these wholesale items at the lowest prices (starting at $0.10 per piece). As long as you meet the minimum of just one case, you can already avail of H&J’s free shipping and delivery! Their almost 30 years of existence are a testament to their great customer service.
So for all the shoeboxes you’re going to fill, go ahead and purchase wholesale items at the cheapest prices from H&J Closeouts!