Giving on a budget--28 items to look for to pack in OCC Shoeboxes

Today I want to share with you one giving opportunity that you can work on throughout the year.

On my own blog I recently started sharing some charities that we support.  One of them is Samaritan's Purse.  You may know them best for their Operation Christmas Child program.

The goal is to fill a shoe box with items for a child living in poverty.  The millions of boxes donated each year go to places like China, Africa, South America, and more.  Many of the children have never had something of their own before, never had a gift.

"Um do you realize this is a Christmas charity you are talking about?"

"Yes"

"It is March."

"Yes."

The reason I am sharing this now is so you can start saving items for a shoebox, NOW.

One year I saved things all year and was able to do 6 or 8 boxes.
Last year I forgot to save and didn't do any!  :(

My goal this year is 6 boxes.  Here are some ideas of what to save to pack in your box!

School Supplies
*consider looking for these around August when Back To School sales start up!

1. Pencils and sharpeners
2. Erasers
3. Crayons
4. Colored Pencils
5. Markers
6. solar powered calculator
7. small notebooks

Health/Hygiene*If you are a couponer, you can get a lot of this free with coupons, save some of your stash back for the shoeboxes!

8. Toothbrush
9. Bar soap
10. Hairbrush
11. comb
12. Hair barrettes/headbands
13. new washcloths
14. socks
15. small tshirt/hat/scarf

Fun stuff:
*Much of this can be grabbed on sale.  Target does a toy clearance in June or July where you can get little toys or games very inexpensively.  Also try the dollar stores, and even yard sales or thrift stores sometimes have NEW items for sale.

16. Small toys like Littlest Pet Shop or Polly Pocket or Hotwheels
17. Small stuffed animals (after holiday clearance can score stuff....try after-Easter sales for plush bunnies)
18. Books
19. Bouncy balls
20. Stickers
21. Stamps and stamp pad
22. magna doodle/etchasketch
23. jump rope
24. yo yo
25. puzzles
26. slinky
27. gum
28. candies--individually wrapped (red/white mints, gummies, skittles.  No chocolate due to melting issues)

Keep in mind, these are suggestions to get our minds flowing.  You couldn't fit EVERY one of these items into one shoebox.  Just pick what you can find within your budget and fit into a box and know that you will be making a huge difference in the life of a child!

My box is packed, now what?
National Collection week is November 12-19th this year.  Many churches, community centers, and moms clubs will be collecting them and take care of getting  your box where it needs to go.  Check back here and use their search engine in October to find your nearest drop off location (I live in a small town and have at least 2 places I could go).

Did I miss anything that could go in a shoebox?  Tell me in the comments.
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