9 Reasons to Pack a Shoebox!

OCC Collection Week is coming SOON!

We have our boxes packed and ready to go — but there’s still plenty of time left for you to pack a shoebox, too!

Great reasons to pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox:

1 – It’s fun!

Every year the kids and I have fun packing our boxes, figuring out what useful items we’ll include and seeing how many toys and things we can squeeze in there.

Ideas to get you started:

* 100 Shoebox Ideas for Girls
* 100 Shoebox Ideas for Boys

2 – Remind your kids Christmas is for giving.

Because with all the Santa and Christmas lights and busy schedules and toys, toys, toys, it’s easy to forget the giving is more important than the getting.

3 – Remind yourself it’s more than a shopping list.

Alex Nsengimana is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. He recently returned to Rwanda to deliver shoebox gifts to the same orphanage where he received a gift himself. While in Rwanda, he also met the man who murdered his uncle (now in prison), and offered him forgiveness. Wow. There’s a reality check for you when you get overwhelmed with Christmas shopping. Watch his story.

4 – It’s a ministry you can do from home.

You can venture to the store to find things to fill your shoeboxes but now you have the option to do it completely from home (in your pajamas if you want!) with OCC’s pack a shoebox online tool.

5 – Uncle Si says to do it!

I admit I’ve never watched Duck Dynasty, but I got a kick out of watching Uncle Si pack a shoebox. He reminds me of [a much hairier version of] my dad, so I like him. 😉

6 – Make a child across the world happy.

My little kids have no concept of the fact that some kids have zero toys, and may have never received a gift. Ever. Heck, it’s still hard for me to grasp that, and I’ve seen it first hand on mission trips. But can you imagine the smile on that child’s face opening a shoebox full of goodies?

7 – Make yourself happy.

A zillion or so studies have proven giving is good for you. Not only is it good for your happiness, giving has also been shown to benefit your health and even your career!

8 – Make a new friend.

You can include a letter in your shoebox and you might get a letter in return! Even if you don’t, you can be sure the recipient thinks of you as friend after receiving your shoebox gift. If you have kids the right age, have them fill out the fun “Let’s be friends” printable on this page, and include it in your box.

9 – Share the love of Jesus.

100 million shoebox gifts have been given in the past 20 years, but there are still many more children to reach!

Once your boxes are ready, find a drop-off location near you and send them on their merry way!

Jamie

Wife, mama, homeschooler, dog-wrangler. Introvert who finds joy in good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Fitness enthusiast and strength coach. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand.