Operation Christmas Child

I know I talked about this last year, but I'm telling you I'm going to be talking about it every year in November probably until the day I die.  I love Smaritian's Purse Operation Christmas Child.  Maybe it's because I'm a bleeding heart liberal, maybe because I'm a Christian, maybe because I grew up in a sub for santa poor family, maybe because I've done a lot of travelling around the world and seen the conditions there, maybe it's because I'm a mom trying to teach my children about giving, or maybe it's just because I love Christmas but I love putting these shoeboxes together with my kids to start off our Christmas season.  This year like last year we did two boxes.  I'm really hoping to do more next year, but there is a seven dollar shipping fee per box donation to help get them to their desinations so right now our family can only afford to do two.  We like to do boxes for the older kids.  I heard from a Operation Christmas Child rep last year that they often don't have as many boxes in that age group as they need so that's where we like to send our boxes.  We do a girl and boy box each year.  The kids love doing these.  We go to the store together to pick up the items for each box, then we fill them and fill out this adorable little information sheet about who our family is.  These were the boxes this year and sort of a cost break down.  I'm hoping next year to collect all year (clearance items, free stuff, great deals to help offset the cost so I can do more boxes) but since you have to turn them in this next week, November 17th-24th we just went to Target (mostly in the dollar deals) and the dollar store to fill our boxes.  Here is what the kids picked and a cost break down, just in case you are interested. 

 

 Above is our box for a girl age 10-12. 
We included from Target
1/2 a four pack of playdough-.50
1/2 a pack of glow in dark stars -.50
1/2 a pack of Christmas pencils - .50
1/2 a pack of tootsie roll suckers - .50
travel toothbrush and toothpaste - 1.00
pair of girls undeware -3.00
leporad notebook - 1.00

From Old Navy
one bouncy ball .25

From Home
40 sheets of notebook paper free

From the Dollar Store
medium purple t-shirt - 1.00
1 pair of socks out of a two pack - .50
pink stuffed dolphin - 1.00
3 pencil sharpeners out of a 6 pack - .50
tote with markers - 1.00
plastic shoe box - 1.00

Our total for the girl box 12.25, add the $7 shipping 19.25

Above is our box for a boy age 10-12
We included for Target
1/2 a four pack of playdough-.50
1/2 a pack of glow in dark stars -.50
1/2 a pack of Christmas pencils - .50
1/2 a pack of tootsie roll suckers - .50
travel toothbrush and toothpaste - 1.00
2 pairs of boys new undeware out of new pack I split with Captain E - 2.00
ninja turtle notebook - 1.00
metal slinky - 1.00

 From Old Navy
one bouncy ball .25

From Home
40 sheets of notebook paper free
4 pack of triple A batteries

From the Dollar Store
medium blue t-shirt - 1.00
1 pair of socks out of a two pack - .50
fuzzy orange ball - 1.00
3 pencil sharpeners out of a 6 pack - .50
led flashlight - 1.00
8 head multi purpose screw driver - 1.00
plastic shoe box - 1.00

Our total for the boy 13.25, with $7 shipping $20.25 

We really enjoy doing these as a family.  If you have any interest you can go to their site here to see where you can drop off boxes and print labels.  Boxes are due next week (the third week of November) so if you are interested you need to get on that soon, or maybe you can start planning for next year.  I know I already am.  These really are a great way to start your holiday season giving and if you want to cry your eyes out spend some time watching videos about kids who have recieved their boxes.