Comments on: How to Pack a Better Shoebox

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:35:23 +0000

In reply to Lydia Merrill. Those are GREAT ideas! Definitely keep sending them!

By: Lydia Merrill

Lydia Merrill — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 17:48:05 +0000

Thank you for this list. It is very helpful. I always send boxes for teens and try to include a fishing kit, tools or a sewing kit as well as some fun items and hygiene items. Are these helpful or would it be better to include something else?

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 01:17:06 +0000

In reply to Carolyn Petrosino. Please do not seal them - the best thing to do is to put rubber bands around them. Every box is inspected at a Processing Center before being shipped out. Thank you for packing shoeboxes!

By: Carolyn Petrosino

Carolyn Petrosino — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 00:56:39 +0000

Please offer advice on sealing the boxes. My boxes are filled but I’ve not sealed them. Do I do it or does the drop off center seal them?

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 21:36:49 +0000

In reply to Ruth T. Hi Ruth, if you're using the foldable cardboard boxes they are 12 x 7 x 4 3/8 inches. Thank you for packing!

By: Ruth T

Ruth T — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 23:26:07 +0000

This is my first year and I would like to know the dimensions of the box. This would help me with how much will fit in a box. Thank you

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 15:16:01 +0000

In reply to Joan. Joan, good points. I now include an email address instead of a physical mailing address. I've received only a couple of messages and photos. :) We also sponsor a child through Compassion.

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 12:01:35 +0000

In reply to Angela Keegan.

Postage is expensive for the families even for a letter and getting the letter to a post office may not be feasible for them. Adding postage to a pre-addressed envelope will not help if you are using US postage. The stamps must be from the country the letter is mailed from. Chances are any note would not be in a language you could read so it would need to be translated. Even if there was someone available who could translate letters/notes, that person likely is more than busy already and we wouldn’t want to burden them more. It might be best just to know you made a child happy and that you will learn all about it one day in heaven.

To exchange letters and pictures with a child in need, sponsoring a child through a child sponsor organization is a good idea. You can choose the country, age, and sex of the child. These organizations are set up to handle the back and forth of letters, including the translations and they take annual photos of the children for the sponsors. They always act as the “in-between” for the sponsored child and the sponsor. They never give your contact info to the child’s family or give the family’s info to the sponsor. They know that is the saver thing to do. You may even want to choose an organization that allows you visit the child and his/her family if you think you might want to take that type of vacation. Some years ago we visited the family of the child we were sponsoring in Mexico. It was very rewarding and eye-opening.

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 12:44:01 +0000

In reply to H Erbes. Thank you for sharing! Your photos and cards I'm sure have blessed many children. <3 Thank you for helping to spread God's love through packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

By: H Erbes

H Erbes — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 20:37:10 +0000

some years ago I found a wonderful picture of a mountain goat. Majestic. we pasted on the top of a box that did not need any other decoration. While at the processing center, some boxes came in covered in Christmas cards. So now almost all our boxes have Christmas cards or neat animal pictures on the box tops. WE also include calendar photos of animals or wonderful nature scenes. The fit nicely inside on the bottom of the box or inside the lid. recently I read a story form a very poor part of Africa. Those calendar pictures might be one of the few beautiful things they have to put up on their walls. From Eastern Europe, I have seen photos of shoe boxes carefully being used to continue to hold precious things. I imagine that could be the case world wide. Let the shoebox itself be a gift!

And yes ALWAYS include a stuffed animal. even if there is only room for a 3 inch teddy, or puppy, or kitten, etc. They will be loved by any child, anywhere.