Comments on: 10 Tips to Pack a Frugal Shoebox for Operation Christmas Child

By: Joy

Joy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:29:19 +0000

Hey! Love this post … just wanted to let you know that I’ve linked to it over on my blog today.
Happy Thursday!!
~ Joy

By: Clair at Mummy Deals

Clair at Mummy Deals — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:05:41 +0000

Glad to see this helped but to answer a few questions:
I get the boxes mainly from Payless Shoestore. They always have ones people leave/extras. They always keep some on the side for me if I ask and even will ask customers if they don’t need them to leave them. Then I just pick them up. other stores will also help.

Mariana – That’s cool that you were in SE Asia too! Tim and I spent 3 years as missionaries to Thailand. We noticed the huge amounts of flipflops but also kids that didn’t have anything for their feet :>( For me I just figured the shoes were better as they might not own any, plus the socks weren’t 10 cents! LOL!

Finally, as far as shipping goes, there are people who don’t want to do a box or don’t have time and will sponsor shipping. You’re right there are no discounts for that but when you donate a bunch of boxes that really helps as there’s others or corporations who will sponsor the shipping.

Ok, really finally: I was told by the regional director here that $2 of the shipping was domestic, the rest US so here’s what we decided: Instead of packing them in boxes I put them in plastic bags and labeled them. Then when they get to MN they’ll put them in boxes. We still make sure to send $7/box but it means that the $2 they’re saving to ship it can go towards other supplies/Bibles. That’s just what I was told. however so as not to influx them with a bunch that need to be boxed, the ones we did at our packing party we boxed.

Have a VERY blessed Christmas everyone!
Clair

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:06:09 +0000

The shipping fee is not for shipping in the U.S. it is to help with the shipping cost of shipping to the countries the shoeboxes will be given in.
the shipping within the U. S. is donated by different companies so if you drop off your box at a drop off location that shipping is already covered.
this is a great program and it helps lots of kids. we love it!

By: See Snapp Save

See Snapp Save — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:46:03 +0000

Many chick-fil-a locations will accept the boxes and as far as I know, they don’t ask for shipping $.

By: Erin

Erin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:45:59 +0000

I want to offer a really great suggestion…. In California, we have flea markets all over the place, and often times these vendors set up little ‘stores’ of items that are brand new… Like packages of 10 socks for 5 bucks or new toiletries that they get at overstock stores for about 50 cents each… its a great place to get socks and other random items for these boxes!

Also if you have a Freecycle in your area or craigslist, post a WANTED ad for the shoeboxes or plastic boxes and note that you are needing them to fill for Operation Christmas Child… sooooooooo many people will contact you with empty boxes that you can come pick up from them for free!!!

By: Bargain Loving Mom

Bargain Loving Mom — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:28:22 +0000

We filled our boxes w/ Target Dollar Spot finds, Happy Meal toys we had duplicates of, Chick-fil-a board books, toothbrushes & toothpastes (scored for free this past year), Granola Bars, crayons & colored pencils w/ sharpeners, stickers, & lollipops!

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:35:12 +0000

If you pay your $7 donation online, a few weeks later you will receive an email telling you what country your box went to and even pictures of the kids receiving boxes in that village. How cool is that? Our kids locate that country on the map, and never forget it! We stock up on items throughout the year. I especially hit WalMart after the back to school sale, where I found glue, pencils, scissors and more marked down to 10 cents!!! I also watch out for mark downs on shoes; just last week I found sandals on sale for $1, and bought them up for our shoeboxes!! I like to pack the stuff in a plastic tote; it will last longer that an shoebox, and I have heard that the families find wonderful uses for a sinple plastic box! Now that we are adopting and have a little girl waiting for us in Ethiopia, the reality of povery in the world is more real to us than it has ever been! It is such a joy to bless these kids……… even it if costs us, it is so worth it; this box may be the first gift the child has ever received!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:25:01 +0000

What a great video! Since everyone seems to be giving frugal suggestions, we like to buy the $1 plastic shoeboxes at Walmart and fill those so that the child or thier family can use the container for food storage or any other items that need to be kept sealed.

By: Teach Children to Save Money

Teach Children to Save Money — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:33:23 +0000

This is a GREAT program, get involved!

By: My Boaz's Ruth

My Boaz's Ruth — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:42:47 +0000

The shipping of the boxes is part of why we made so few.

This video makes me a bit sick though when I think how much I spent for the two little boxes we made. And we didn’t put socks in… I didn’t know

By: jenelle

jenelle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:47:49 +0000

melanie–
We got 40 empty shoe boxes from famous footwear for the youth at our church to fill!

By: Carrie P

Carrie P — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:35:39 +0000

I was at the Walmart in Sheboygan and they have the Progresso soups on sale for $1.50. I was able to get several copies of the $1/1 and the $1.10/1 coupons for the Fiber Progresso soups so I was able to get soup for between $0.40 – $0.50/can! How cool is that?

By: sar

sar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:06:10 +0000

melanie, lots of times churches provide the boxes (ours has for the past several years). but i’m curious how she got them if the church didn’t provide them! as far as shipping goes, i make an online donation, which does mean i spent more than $6 on 4 boxes — i should have mentioned that! oops.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:44:45 +0000

Patti, that makes me feel so good to know that my mother as well as ourselves put sockes in each & every box that we have filled.

DeAnna, very well said!

Oh the things that we take for granted!!!!!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:35:42 +0000

Hi Everyone as someone who is very familiar with Operation Christmas Child I just wanted to let everyone know that the donation is not used to cover shipping within the US. It is used to cover the cost of shipping from the US to overseas, the cost of booklets that are given along side the boxes and in some cases discipleship materials that are used by churches and schools where the boxes are given out. You can go to the OCC website and type in your zip code and it will tell you the 5 closest drop off points to your location. They are all over the U.S. You don’t have to pay for anything but the donation is asked for to help with the cost of the ministry.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:45:20 +0000

Where did she find the boxes? I think that was one of the hardest parts for me. I found some of the clear plastic shoeboxes at a yard sale or I would have had to, gulp, pay full retail price

By: Candias

Candias — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:16:33 +0000

I too love Samaritans Purse and was so encouraged to see your video. It is so true, if you are organized, we can be such good stewards of the money that God has given us and with a little time and effort, we can put a smile on others faces. Thank you and God bless you. Also, for those worried about not being able to pay the shipping cost, Samaritan’s Purse had people who can not get out to purchase and make up a shoebox, but donate money to cover the shipping costs, my mom-in-law for example, so if God puts on your heart to make a box, he will lay on another’s heart to donate for that box.

By: DeAnna

DeAnna — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:57:50 +0000

Kiddo goes to a private (church) preschool and they have asked us to donate the boxes. As long as they are turned in next week, we get free shipping on them. There are also big boxes set up in local businesses here where they cover shipping if you drop off shoeboxes of goodies. It’s a great program, and along with the canned food drive, is a fun way to teach the kids that others don’t have it as great as they do.

By: Marlana

Marlana — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:37:42 +0000

Great Video!!! I’ve been stacking similar bargains. I’ve spent a lot of time in SE Asia, though, and I have not noticed a shortage in flip flops, nor do they cost much. (In fact, that’s one of the first words I taught the village – and it was very poor — in English.)

Socks are TOTALLY a shortage, though. In Thailand they cost $3 a pair, and they are almost impossible to find, let alone affordable for village people (which is why everyone wears flip flops). But for village children they are very, very necessary, and leches are a major problem both in India and SE Asia, so socks are helpful.

Anyway, if any of you think of India or SE Asia, I’d definitely suggest socks. And pray that God sends the packages to the person who needs them. He will.

By: Patti

Patti — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:06:13 +0000

Just a note: I purchased kids scissors at Office Depot last week: 2 pair for $.25!! I couldn’t figure out why they were so cheap until I realized they are “pointed tip” rather than blunt tip. Actually, they are not very pointed so I bought 20 pairs for our church and 20 pairs for when I do craft work with others. These would be great for the shoeboxes.