This was my first year volunteering at a Processing Center and I was heartbroken by the contents of the boxes I inspected. 😢 I’m also sorry to report the majority of the boxes had items of low quality and little practicality. And, most were less than half full. I was shocked, but determined to work even harder on the boxes I pack in 2024. This platform is an excellent way to encourage folks to be more thoughtful about their gifts. Speaking only for myself, I’d rather pack only one, practical, fun, thoughtful, filled-to-the-brim box, than try to send a certain number of boxes like the ones I saw when volunteering. Please continue to remind your viewers about this intermittently throughout the year. It’s so, so important.
Thank you so much for this! It is such an important reminder. We've volunteered at the Calgary processing center in Canada for the last three years and there are definitely lots of really amazing, stuffed boxes that come through, but there are also those that come through half empty, or with lots of banned items like candy, liquids or used items that need to be removed, and it really breaks your heart for the kids who will receive those boxes. This is the only gift a child might ever receive in their life, and it's so important that they are full of good quality items that will last. If you are packing with little ones, or part of a church packing party, assign someone to have a quick look at each box before you send it off, and make sure nothing important has been forgotten, (like school supplies) and that every box is really full to the top. Focus on quality boxes rather than the number of boxes. Be sure to read the list of items that can't be sent in your country, so that volunteers don't have to remove those items at the processing center, leaving your box half full. And if you are able to send good quality filler items to your local processing center, they are such a huge blessing to the volunteers trying to top up those half filled boxes so every child gets a wonderful shoebox gift!
Thank you for all you do to educate people on what a happy box looks like and assist them in finding affordable, quality items. It seems this year I saw so many more disheartening posts about boxes at the processing center. I don't know if it is because I am following more OCC postings on several sites or if it because it was a particularly bad year for education. I know that OCC provides a flyer with how to pack a shoebox and at two different churches I visited they put the flyer in each shoeboxes they handed out and even displayed samples at their OCC station on what a happy box looks like. Somehow we need to keep educating people that you do not have to overspend to pack a nice box. You just need some forethought. Shop ahead. Plan ahead for your boxes. I sent a lot of fillers this year. I hope they were helpful, but man, I would love for the churches to educate as they hand out those boxes to their congregation members. I have had many people tell me they didn't realize how much thought I put into the boxes and they didn't realize OCC requests something from different categories to make a box. I also have no problem telling people when in doubt, build a box online. It walks them through the process and perhaps after building a box online category by category, they may be more inspired to build one themselves.
So agree Christy…need more school supplies and toys…Baltimore PC had a lot of great boxes this year😎. Yes, shopping year round helps and get high quality items..thanx for letting us know about great deals😎
I've been packing full shoeboxes for around 14 yrs and I never heard of filler. This year I starting watching videos about OCC shoebox packing and learned I could send filler to the processing center. It was so sad to hear how many boxes come through without school supplies. In addition to my 15 shoeboxes for 2023, I made a whole bunch of wow pencil packs, and sent lots of plush and toys for filler. I am shopping throughout the year now to help donate filler as well. I believe God will provide the bargains and discounts to make it happen. I've already started my pencil packs for this year.
I would love to see a shoebox with the lion from Kohls. I got a bunch of them but they’re pretty big. You always get so much in a box, so if you have time this year I’d love to see you work your magic fitting a lion in a shoebox with other items. 😃
We have been doing a good job with school supplies ever since hearing Ives testimony. Hubby always chose do add hats, gloves small balls and baby dolls. But this year we have only Sox and a few sandals so far in the clothes category, but have included a lot more fun items this year. Especially since we’ve had a couple people donate lots of fidget toys and one guy over 100 sets of marbles all including shooters! He’s new to our church just this year and knew nothing about OCC. However, when I found out he actually MAKES marbles I asked if he’d donate a few sets. (I have been bolder about asking this year!) Well, I never expected over 100 sets, so some might actually end up as filler for the processing center our stuff goes to! This is also the first year I put together (with my helper of course) some pencil packs. I ordered some Christmas clearance party favor packs that included pencils, stickers, erasers, sharpeners, small notepad and I don’t remember what else. I should have some extra of the little coloring books I got from Amazon I hope to add to them after we pack our boxes, too. I ended up with more pencil cases than I thought (thought I ordered 100 for the boxes we are planning to pack but was surprised it was 144!) so we went ahead and used the extras to put our pencil packs together in plus let my helper take some for her personal shoeboxes. So we packed 24 extras to send as filler. But, we aren’t to packing times yet so I hope to get more things myself as well as congregation donations!
Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue. I worked at the processing center two years ago and was devastated by the number of boxes with only a few items. One box had one item!! And there was hardly any filler to be found. It is so important that we spread the word to folks not only to have them send quality boxes, but filler items as well when they can.
How sad that anyone would send a shoebox half filled and with missing items like quality toys and school supplies? If they thought of their own children they would only want the best for them. God wants the best for all His children. Thank you for all you do for God and His little ones!
I think some people agree to do a box on impulse (or maybe even feel pressured?) and it ends up costing more in money and/or time than they expected. Or they just run out of time.
@@Lunafalls maybe. But I think the majority of groups have a goal set for them and they can’t meet the high goal…unless they spread their supplies out to meet the goal instead of planning and saving all year round. For example, a very small local church by me collects items by the month with a goal in mind. For example, December, collect 200 plush. January 200 hygiene kits. February 100 jump ropes and 100 flashlights. Etc. It’s truly an act of love and sacrifice as they gather items each month. Then by collection time, their shoeboxes are able to be packed full with leftovers to be used as fillers.
while some do it because they were never given complete instructions and or understand the concept of a 'full gift box'...sadly, other people have personal goals and as it gets closer to National Collection Week, they will just cut down the amount in each gift box so that their goal is met.... this section of people also cut quality of the items ... and I agree... they are not thinking of the child, but rather their own personal goals.
We just had a packing party at church and I had to send some men back to fill their boxes. We always include pencil packs, hygiene packs with toothbrushes, soap, washcloth, comb or brush, underwear. If I can shake a box and it rattles it needs more! One lady at our church made 120 packs with 5 pads and underwear for the 10-14 girls. We didn't use them all so she took them to another church that was having their packing party after ours. This is my mission and God has blessed me so much!!!
You and me both! I cringe when I hear of some of the things people gift -- because it is 'better than nothing' OR 'they can substitute this for "xxx" " And half filled boxes depending on the Processing Center to complete all this so they can reach their personal goals of packing 100 boxes ..
If there were only some way to encourage people to even stretch it out over a couple months. I think my little daughter and I are developing what works for us. Get a few boxes in January. Keep them in the closet and add a little bit all year round! I think we are starting first with a large toy (probably vehicles) and a plush in each. And then to build around those with a paper tablet, writing utensils and a sharpener. To me, it feels like that is where our family should start. And also this year will be for toddler and teen boys. 🤔🤔🤔🤔 Of course much more will be added for that full quality. Like balls, drawstring bags and harmonicas. Lots to think about and plan. But it just helps to spread the expense to every month.
Weldon,i really appreciate you all for the wonderful gift sending to the children all over the world.God bless you all ijmn Amen.we have lots of children in our local church who will like to benefit from this.
❤ This is a much needed video. Thank you so much for making it. We need to definitely encourage quality alternatives to dollar tree plush and dolls. The least of these will be first in heaven. God's way should be our example. I have worked at the processing center for several years and still have not seen a quality baby doll in a toddler girl box. I do not understand this. I saw a lot of dollar tree knock of barbies with fins for feet this year from a church packing party. Taping those boxes up was heartbreaking.
Oh, Pam! It’s hard to want to go work. Last year, I walked away from my station in tears because of what I was seeing. I’m praying more project leaders help their groups improve by packing all year or each month buying 100 of something to at least aim for balanced and quality become a priority!
School supplies is the #1 thing I start with for all my boxes! They all get pencils, erasers, a pencil sharpener, scissors, glue, notebooks, and sometimes a ruler. I'm sure the person who didn't put crayons in the box probably forgot! I've forgotten, but luckily, remembered after putting the rubber bands on that I forgot the crayons.
I was going to wait until after Christmas to start shopping for next years shoe boxes, but I couldn’t wait! I have started shopping for them. And this year I am starting with the school supplies, and I even found some really neat sticker activity mini books. I also picked up Ten of those Ozark flashlights at Walmart, to put In my boxes. However to keep from over buying I have run off the list from the blessings in a shoe box to keep track. And I will also be buying fillers and sending them in a separate box with my shoe boxes. I have also divided everything up by age in gallon sized zip loch bags so I can see what I have. All though I will be getting at least two Gallon zip lock bags to put as much as possible in each bag. Then when It comes time to pack the boxes everything is already organized. You have some great ideas.
Thank you for all your doing! It’s the Lord’s work we’re doing-for his glory and for the spreading of the Gospel. May God find us doing His business when He returns to take us home!
I,was watching on UA-cam some people in another country disturbing the shoe boxes and they were talking about how they go about it. They will invite upwards of twenty to thirty children at a time to a certain location rather a church or outdoors somewhere to give out the boxes. But before that they talk to them, then after giving out the shoe boxes they invite them back for a twelve week discipleship course. Many children have given their lives to Christ because of this ministry outreach. In fact one of the couples here at our local church who head the shoebox packing they get to go to Ecuador in May to witness a shoe box distribution.
@@ursulaschletter1959Oh, you meant "distributing" the boxes! It came out "disturbing". For a minute there I thought you were writing about someone tampering with boxes.
@@Lunafalls oops! The spelling did make it sound like someone was disturbing or tampering with the shoe boxes. I just need to slow down when spelling certain words. I have dyslexia so spelling is hard for me.
I was very sorry to hear the disappointment in your voice doing this video. Like you, I pack everything but the kitchen sink into my boxes. Each box was stuffed to the gills, a two rubber bander that's for sure with only quality items.. my boxes this year went to Ecuador & Burundi. I pack mostly for the 2-4 age group & have a lot of fun doing it. I am already buying & will be packing my new boxes shortly . I have a lot of items left over either to make fillers or to make more boxes. We shall see...
Kristy I totally agree with you. I do all of the school supplies. I filled my boxes tight. I put in alot of toy's in my boxes to. I pack all year long. I have 4 boxes done for next year already. You are great. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing. I am encouraged to find so many likeminded people who have this passion for sharing the Gospel through shoeboxes. I won’t be discouraged, but press on to meet the goal so God will be glorified!
Great video. Already working on boxes for next year. My family's box was very full with school supplies, hygiene products and toys. I think we spent around sixty dollars. I went for quality. Plan on donating a box of fillers also for next year.
This is such great information. This year I actually cut back on school supplies bc I usually send so many but I can go back to sending a bunch, now that I know they’re needed. It breaks my heart to think that people are sending half full boxes or only clothes- imagine being a child receiving that, sitting in a room full of kids getting good toys. My problem is always that the boxes aren’t big enough to hold everything. (And how on earth are you going to get those big ol’ stuffies into those little shoeboxes???) Thank you for this video.
I do put clothing in - usually pants & shirt for boys, dress for girls. I know it takes up room but I do squeeze in so much school supplies, hygiene products, stuffed animals, yoyos, jumpropes, small balls, etc. But I will keep this in mind about the clothes - thank you
This is my first year ever doing OCC, and I’m so happy that I was led to watch your videos. I plan to follow your wonderful advice and include school supplies and a backpack along with a FULL selection of high quality toys and comfort items. I’d rather do a couple of boxes really, really well! Thank you and may the Lord continue to bless your loving mission in His name!
Every Shoebox that we pack for our church and all of the boxes I pack on my own have school supplies. Since hearing that so many Shoeboxes don't contain school supplies, I've started packing pencil pouches for fillers as well. When we take our cartons to the Central Drop Off, the men loading them onto the big truck always make comments about how heavy they are. We've noticed that a lot of the cartons are kind of tossed up onto the truck, but they certainly can't toss ours! I absolutely agree about the Dollar Tree "Barbies." They just don't last at all. There are a few items at Dollar Tree that are worth seeking out, but often they just show up before Christmas and can be difficult to find. For awhile they had some very sturdy big plastic cars, and we bought them anytime we could find them. We also shop year 'round t a lot of stores, especially online, and pay a lot less and therefore we can afford to send many more Shoeboxes than if we paid full price. A suggestion for churches that collect Shoeboxes from individuals: when they bring their boxes in, have toys available that they can add to their boxes if they need to "top them off." We obviously don't look inside, but you can tell when there isn't much in there-- the boxes either rattle or are very light. Without offending the donor, we just ask if they would like to add anything to their box. (One woman had nothing in her box except for one pair of adult slippers, and we only knew this because she proudly opened her box to show our volunteer. She was asking where the label was for adults, and when told that we don't pack for adults, she haughtily announced that she had been packing for years and knew that OCC most certainly packs for adults. You know, you can only educate so much, and if people won't listen you can't do much more than that.)
Saddest thing I saw was a pack of 50 pencils with no sharpener. And we had a filler bag of sharpeners but when we went on our lunch break someone took them (for their boxes)so we had to send the box with no sharpener😭
It is extremely disappointing to hear that so many boxes are lacking and every time I mention this on one of the Facebook groups I usually get shot down for not being ‘encouraging’ enough. It is usually the same people saying they are doing what they can afford but then pack multiple underwhelming boxes. I say pack less but make them fuller. I have had some responses from some recipients of my boxes, they always say they really loved the school supplies, especially the writing books. I packed 78 boxes this year, they have all gone to Papua New Guinea, I hope the kids have strong muscles to carry my fat boxes home !
Oh what an encouraging comment! God bless you, Julie. Thank you for all you’re doing for the children. May God be honored and work mightily through your gifts by his Spirit.
This makes me so happy. 😊 My sister and brother in law have been missionaries in PNG for 22 years. The children there have so little. It is a hard life for them.
I had to leave a few groups because I was reminding people of the guidelines -- they wanted to take short cuts and do their own thing in order to reach their personal goals. And yes, if they were short of meeting their goals, they would break things up so that the PC would have to fill them the other half. And I was called names because I wanted people to do the right thing.
It's ok to shop Dollar Tree if you pick the good stuff like actual Hot Wheels, Barbie, Crayola, etc. Not the junk. I not only shop the DT because it's near Christmas but because it's economical or I could not do the box. However, I do not only shop there. I think folks need to think if they would have wanted these items purchased if they were a child or if this was for the children. I was shocked to hear some do not think to put in school supplies or toys for Christmas or even fill up the box! Thank you for the information you provide. I never realized this is something people do all year! You give great ideas! Blessings to you!❤
Thank you for putting the child first!! So many shop at the dollar store in order to be able to make their personal goals, with no consideration that the gift is representing Jesus. While we can get some quality items at the dollar store, other items are junk and nothing says "Jesus loves you" than a toy that breaks right away :-(
I have two boxes on the go right now for a girl and a boy. I read that they always need more older boy boxes so I am working on one for an older boy. I gave him a baseball but I am unsure about send a baseball glove. Can they be sent?
take all the air out of them some people will use a food saver and then include scissors. or put it in a zip lock bag and take the air out and put a rubber band around it
I'm seriously thinking of finding another charity to support. First of all, this is not supposed to be humanitarian aid, it's supposed to be about spreading the gospel. You guys are telling people what they should pack when I always thought you should pack what your heart leads you to pack as long as it is within OCC/Samaritan's Purse guidelines. Y'all have started to come across as down right judgemental and I'm just not feeling it.
Please reconsider -- you can gift whatever you want. What I see is them offering suggestions -- and suggestions of quality items. They are not Samaritan's Purse employees -- they are donors just like you and me. Sadly, not everyone packs gifts based on the guidelines, but rather their own opinion and they are more focused on the quantity rather than the quality of the gifts so this page encourages me -- but you need to pray about it and do what God would have you to do ..
This was my first year volunteering at a Processing Center and I was heartbroken by the contents of the boxes I inspected. 😢 I’m also sorry to report the majority of the boxes had items of low quality and little practicality. And, most were less than half full. I was shocked, but determined to work even harder on the boxes I pack in 2024. This platform is an excellent way to encourage folks to be more thoughtful about their gifts. Speaking only for myself, I’d rather pack only one, practical, fun, thoughtful, filled-to-the-brim box, than try to send a certain number of boxes like the ones I saw when volunteering. Please continue to remind your viewers about this intermittently throughout the year. It’s so, so important.
Your so right!
Your so right!
Thank you so much for this! It is such an important reminder. We've volunteered at the Calgary processing center in Canada for the last three years and there are definitely lots of really amazing, stuffed boxes that come through, but there are also those that come through half empty, or with lots of banned items like candy, liquids or used items that need to be removed, and it really breaks your heart for the kids who will receive those boxes. This is the only gift a child might ever receive in their life, and it's so important that they are full of good quality items that will last. If you are packing with little ones, or part of a church packing party, assign someone to have a quick look at each box before you send it off, and make sure nothing important has been forgotten, (like school supplies) and that every box is really full to the top. Focus on quality boxes rather than the number of boxes. Be sure to read the list of items that can't be sent in your country, so that volunteers don't have to remove those items at the processing center, leaving your box half full. And if you are able to send good quality filler items to your local processing center, they are such a huge blessing to the volunteers trying to top up those half filled boxes so every child gets a wonderful shoebox gift!
I wish every single person who packs shoe boxes, could watch this video!
I do too!
Thank you for all you do to educate people on what a happy box looks like and assist them in finding affordable, quality items. It seems this year I saw so many more disheartening posts about boxes at the processing center. I don't know if it is because I am following more OCC postings on several sites or if it because it was a particularly bad year for education. I know that OCC provides a flyer with how to pack a shoebox and at two different churches I visited they put the flyer in each shoeboxes they handed out and even displayed samples at their OCC station on what a happy box looks like. Somehow we need to keep educating people that you do not have to overspend to pack a nice box. You just need some forethought. Shop ahead. Plan ahead for your boxes. I sent a lot of fillers this year. I hope they were helpful, but man, I would love for the churches to educate as they hand out those boxes to their congregation members. I have had many people tell me they didn't realize how much thought I put into the boxes and they didn't realize OCC requests something from different categories to make a box. I also have no problem telling people when in doubt, build a box online. It walks them through the process and perhaps after building a box online category by category, they may be more inspired to build one themselves.
I agree wholeheartedly, Nettie! Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
So agree Christy…need more school supplies and toys…Baltimore PC had a lot of great boxes this year😎. Yes, shopping year round helps and get high quality items..thanx for letting us know about great deals😎
I've been packing full shoeboxes for around 14 yrs and I never heard of filler. This year I starting watching videos about OCC shoebox packing and learned I could send filler to the processing center. It was so sad to hear how many boxes come through without school supplies. In addition to my 15 shoeboxes for 2023, I made a whole bunch of wow pencil packs, and sent lots of plush and toys for filler. I am shopping throughout the year now to help donate filler as well. I believe God will provide the bargains and discounts to make it happen. I've already started my pencil packs for this year.
I would love to see a shoebox with the lion from Kohls. I got a bunch of them but they’re pretty big. You always get so much in a box, so if you have time this year I’d love to see you work your magic fitting a lion in a shoebox with other items. 😃
I appreciate the ideas on the FB group! I have been buying some of the toys and a lot of school supplies already!
We have been doing a good job with school supplies ever since hearing Ives testimony. Hubby always chose do add hats, gloves small balls and baby dolls. But this year we have only Sox and a few sandals so far in the clothes category, but have included a lot more fun items this year. Especially since we’ve had a couple people donate lots of fidget toys and one guy over 100 sets of marbles all including shooters! He’s new to our church just this year and knew nothing about OCC. However, when I found out he actually MAKES marbles I asked if he’d donate a few sets. (I have been bolder about asking this year!) Well, I never expected over 100 sets, so some might actually end up as filler for the processing center our stuff goes to! This is also the first year I put together (with my helper of course) some pencil packs. I ordered some Christmas clearance party favor packs that included pencils, stickers, erasers, sharpeners, small notepad and I don’t remember what else. I should have some extra of the little coloring books I got from Amazon I hope to add to them after we pack our boxes, too. I ended up with more pencil cases than I thought (thought I ordered 100 for the boxes we are planning to pack but was surprised it was 144!) so we went ahead and used the extras to put our pencil packs together in plus let my helper take some for her personal shoeboxes. So we packed 24 extras to send as filler. But, we aren’t to packing times yet so I hope to get more things myself as well as congregation donations!
Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue. I worked at the processing center two years ago and was devastated by the number of boxes with only a few items. One box had one item!! And there was hardly any filler to be found. It is so important that we spread the word to folks not only to have them send quality boxes, but filler items as well when they can.
Thanks for sharing!, Esther. I know there is a push for more shoeboxes, but we can’t sacrifice quality for quantity.
How sad that anyone would send a shoebox half filled and with missing items like quality toys and school supplies? If they thought of their own children they would only want the best for them. God wants the best for all His children. Thank you for all you do for God and His little ones!
Thank you, Joan. That’s a great analogy! Give our best as unto the Lord!
I think some people agree to do a box on impulse (or maybe even feel pressured?) and it ends up costing more in money and/or time than they expected. Or they just run out of time.
@@Lunafalls maybe. But I think the majority of groups have a goal set for them and they can’t meet the high goal…unless they spread their supplies out to meet the goal instead of planning and saving all year round. For example, a very small local church by me collects items by the month with a goal in mind. For example, December, collect 200 plush. January 200 hygiene kits. February 100 jump ropes and 100 flashlights. Etc. It’s truly an act of love and sacrifice as they gather items each month. Then by collection time, their shoeboxes are able to be packed full with leftovers to be used as fillers.
while some do it because they were never given complete instructions and or understand the concept of a 'full gift box'...sadly, other people have personal goals and as it gets closer to National Collection Week, they will just cut down the amount in each gift box so that their goal is met.... this section of people also cut quality of the items ... and I agree... they are not thinking of the child, but rather their own personal goals.
We just had a packing party at church and I had to send some men back to fill their boxes. We always include pencil packs, hygiene packs with toothbrushes, soap, washcloth, comb or brush, underwear. If I can shake a box and it rattles it needs more! One lady at our church made 120 packs with 5 pads and underwear for the 10-14 girls. We didn't use them all so she took them to another church that was having their packing party after ours. This is my mission and God has blessed me so much!!!
This has been so helpful, thank you. I am going to get some school supplies tomorrow for my 2024 box here in the UK!
Your great Christy and I pray people do learn to pack full quality boxes! It kills me to see otherwise.
Thank you!
You and me both! I cringe when I hear of some of the things people gift -- because it is 'better than nothing' OR 'they can substitute this for "xxx" " And half filled boxes depending on the Processing Center to complete all this so they can reach their personal goals of packing 100 boxes ..
If there were only some way to encourage people to even stretch it out over a couple months. I think my little daughter and I are developing what works for us. Get a few boxes in January. Keep them in the closet and add a little bit all year round! I think we are starting first with a large toy (probably vehicles) and a plush in each. And then to build around those with a paper tablet, writing utensils and a sharpener. To me, it feels like that is where our family should start. And also this year will be for toddler and teen boys. 🤔🤔🤔🤔 Of course much more will be added for that full quality. Like balls, drawstring bags and harmonicas. Lots to think about and plan. But it just helps to spread the expense to every month.
If you go to the website, there are resources you can use and suggested items to collect each month.
I think it's a lot of fun sending toys! The little gems make the box a lot more exciting to pack.
Weldon,i really appreciate you all for the wonderful gift sending to the children all over the world.God bless you all ijmn Amen.we have lots of children in our local church who will like to benefit from this.
❤ This is a much needed video. Thank you so much for making it. We need to definitely encourage quality alternatives to dollar tree plush and dolls. The least of these will be first in heaven. God's way should be our example. I have worked at the processing center for several years and still have not seen a quality baby doll in a toddler girl box. I do not understand this. I saw a lot of dollar tree knock of barbies with fins for feet this year from a church packing party. Taping those boxes up was heartbreaking.
Oh, Pam! It’s hard to want to go work. Last year, I walked away from my station in tears because of what I was seeing. I’m praying more project leaders help their groups improve by packing all year or each month buying 100 of something to at least aim for balanced and quality become a priority!
@@christym.814Oh wow! Is there not enough filler available to at least make a full box?
School supplies is the #1 thing I start with for all my boxes! They all get pencils, erasers, a pencil sharpener, scissors, glue, notebooks, and sometimes a ruler. I'm sure the person who didn't put crayons in the box probably forgot! I've forgotten, but luckily, remembered after putting the rubber bands on that I forgot the crayons.
I was going to wait until after Christmas to start shopping for next years shoe boxes, but I couldn’t wait! I have started shopping for them. And this year I am starting with the school supplies, and I even found some really neat sticker activity mini books. I also picked up Ten of those Ozark flashlights at Walmart, to put In my boxes. However to keep from over buying I have run off the list from the blessings in a shoe box to keep track. And I will also be buying fillers and sending them in a separate box with my shoe boxes. I have also divided everything up by age in gallon sized zip loch bags so I can see what I have. All though I will be getting at least two Gallon zip lock bags to put as much as possible in each bag. Then when It comes time to pack the boxes everything is already organized. You have some great ideas.
Thank you for all your doing! It’s the Lord’s work we’re doing-for his glory and for the spreading of the Gospel. May God find us doing His business when He returns to take us home!
@@christym.814 I agree, this all for the Lord, it’s the way for the gospel to be spread to the children and their families.
I,was watching on UA-cam some people in another country disturbing the shoe boxes and they were talking about how they go about it. They will invite upwards of twenty to thirty children at a time to a certain location rather a church or outdoors somewhere to give out the boxes. But before that they talk to them, then after giving out the shoe boxes they invite them back for a twelve week discipleship course. Many children have given their lives to Christ because of this ministry outreach. In fact one of the couples here at our local church who head the shoebox packing they get to go to Ecuador in May to witness a shoe box distribution.
@@ursulaschletter1959Oh, you meant "distributing" the boxes! It came out "disturbing". For a minute there I thought you were writing about someone tampering with boxes.
@@Lunafalls oops! The spelling did make it sound like someone was disturbing or tampering with the shoe boxes. I just need to slow down when spelling certain words. I have dyslexia so spelling is hard for me.
I was very sorry to hear the disappointment in your voice doing this video. Like you, I pack everything but the kitchen sink into my boxes. Each box was stuffed to the gills, a two rubber bander that's for sure with only quality items.. my boxes this year went to Ecuador & Burundi. I pack mostly for the 2-4 age group & have a lot of fun doing it. I am already buying & will be packing my new boxes shortly . I have a lot of items left over either to make fillers or to make more boxes. We shall see...
My boxes went to South Africa (through Baltimore) for the second year in a row. With all the countries OCC ships to, what are the odds! 🙃
Kristy I totally agree with you. I do all of the school supplies. I filled my boxes tight. I put in alot of toy's in my boxes to. I pack all year long. I have 4 boxes done for next year already. You are great. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing. I am encouraged to find so many likeminded people who have this passion for sharing the Gospel through shoeboxes. I won’t be discouraged, but press on to meet the goal so God will be glorified!
I think carabiners would also be a very useful addition to a shoe box and something small as filler...especially a 10-14 boy box.
Great video. Already working on boxes for next year. My family's box was very full with school supplies, hygiene products and toys. I think we spent around sixty dollars. I went for quality. Plan on donating a box of fillers also for next year.
Awesome! Thank you, Brenda!
This is such great information. This year I actually cut back on school supplies bc I usually send so many but I can go back to sending a bunch, now that I know they’re needed. It breaks my heart to think that people are sending half full boxes or only clothes- imagine being a child receiving that, sitting in a room full of kids getting good toys. My problem is always that the boxes aren’t big enough to hold everything. (And how on earth are you going to get those big ol’ stuffies into those little shoeboxes???)
Thank you for this video.
I do put clothing in - usually pants & shirt for boys, dress for girls. I know it takes up room but I do squeeze in so much school supplies, hygiene products, stuffed animals, yoyos, jumpropes, small balls, etc. But I will keep this in mind about the clothes - thank you
Im not religious but im going to do this this this year for the children ❤️ im a bargain shopper for my kids year round why not for others? :)
This is my first year ever doing OCC, and I’m so happy that I was led to watch your videos. I plan to follow your wonderful advice and include school supplies and a backpack along with a FULL selection of high quality toys and comfort items. I’d rather do a couple of boxes really, really well! Thank you and may the Lord continue to bless your loving mission in His name!
You got this!
Thank you!
Great job
Every Shoebox that we pack for our church and all of the boxes I pack on my own have school supplies. Since hearing that so many Shoeboxes don't contain school supplies, I've started packing pencil pouches for fillers as well.
When we take our cartons to the Central Drop Off, the men loading them onto the big truck always make comments about how heavy they are. We've noticed that a lot of the cartons are kind of tossed up onto the truck, but they certainly can't toss ours!
I absolutely agree about the Dollar Tree "Barbies." They just don't last at all. There are a few items at Dollar Tree that are worth seeking out, but often they just show up before Christmas and can be difficult to find. For awhile they had some very sturdy big plastic cars, and we bought them anytime we could find them. We also shop year 'round t a lot of stores, especially online, and pay a lot less and therefore we can afford to send many more Shoeboxes than if we paid full price.
A suggestion for churches that collect Shoeboxes from individuals: when they bring their boxes in, have toys available that they can add to their boxes if they need to "top them off." We obviously don't look inside, but you can tell when there isn't much in there-- the boxes either rattle or are very light. Without offending the donor, we just ask if they would like to add anything to their box. (One woman had nothing in her box except for one pair of adult slippers, and we only knew this because she proudly opened her box to show our volunteer. She was asking where the label was for adults, and when told that we don't pack for adults, she haughtily announced that she had been packing for years and knew that OCC most certainly packs for adults. You know, you can only educate so much, and if people won't listen you can't do much more than that.)
Saddest thing I saw was a pack of 50 pencils with no sharpener. And we had a filler bag of sharpeners but when we went on our lunch break someone took them (for their boxes)so we had to send the box with no sharpener😭
no worries -- a sharpener is not needed -- they can sharpen them the 'old fashioned ' way -- like we did as a child -- with a knife 🙂
It is extremely disappointing to hear that so many boxes are lacking and every time I mention this on one of the Facebook groups I usually get shot down for not being ‘encouraging’ enough. It is usually the same people saying they are doing what they can afford but then pack multiple underwhelming boxes. I say pack less but make them fuller.
I have had some responses from some recipients of my boxes, they always say they really loved the school supplies, especially the writing books.
I packed 78 boxes this year, they have all gone to Papua New Guinea, I hope the kids have strong muscles to carry my fat boxes home !
Oh what an encouraging comment! God bless you, Julie. Thank you for all you’re doing for the children. May God be honored and work mightily through your gifts by his Spirit.
This makes me so happy. 😊 My sister and brother in law have been missionaries in PNG for 22 years. The children there have so little. It is a hard life for them.
I had to leave a few groups because I was reminding people of the guidelines -- they wanted to take short cuts and do their own thing in order to reach their personal goals. And yes, if they were short of meeting their goals, they would break things up so that the PC would have to fill them the other half. And I was called names because I wanted people to do the right thing.
It's ok to shop Dollar Tree if you pick the good stuff like actual Hot Wheels, Barbie, Crayola, etc. Not the junk. I not only shop the DT because it's near Christmas but because it's economical or I could not do the box. However, I do not only shop there. I think folks need to think if they would have wanted these items purchased if they were a child or if this was for the children. I was shocked to hear some do not think to put in school supplies or toys for Christmas or even fill up the box! Thank you for the information you provide. I never realized this is something people do all year! You give great ideas! Blessings to you!❤
Thank you for putting the child first!! So many shop at the dollar store in order to be able to make their personal goals, with no consideration that the gift is representing Jesus. While we can get some quality items at the dollar store, other items are junk and nothing says "Jesus loves you" than a toy that breaks right away :-(
Great video!
Do the boxes get collected over the whole year and do you or can you send filler a year also
I have two boxes on the go right now for a girl and a boy. I read that they always need more older boy boxes so I am working on one for an older boy. I gave him a baseball but I am unsure about send a baseball glove. Can they be sent?
How do you get those big animal's in a box? What size of a box will you use for them?😂
take all the air out of them some people will use a food saver and then include scissors. or put it in a zip lock bag and take the air out and put a rubber band around it
Christy, I enjoyed your video on what not to send. I am a teacher and my pet peeve is using the word UM. In that video, you said UM only 93 times.
I'm seriously thinking of finding another charity to support. First of all, this is not supposed to be humanitarian aid, it's supposed to be about spreading the gospel. You guys are telling people what they should pack when I always thought you should pack what your heart leads you to pack as long as it is within OCC/Samaritan's Purse guidelines. Y'all have started to come across as down right judgemental and I'm just not feeling it.
Please reconsider -- you can gift whatever you want. What I see is them offering suggestions -- and suggestions of quality items. They are not Samaritan's Purse employees -- they are donors just like you and me. Sadly, not everyone packs gifts based on the guidelines, but rather their own opinion and they are more focused on the quantity rather than the quality of the gifts so this page encourages me -- but you need to pray about it and do what God would have you to do ..