I try to find the bargains but with my joint issues shopping is difficult sometimes. So I have become an Amazon addict. I try to shop their Operation Christmas Child section specifically. I admit I’ve not been totally happy with each item, but have found many I like. So I want to ask your opinion about doing most of my shopping this way. I already know what I won’t order again next year because I was a little disappointed this year. But I do shop local back to school sales as I find better bargains for most items. Just bought quite a few 70 sheet notebooks for 3 for $1 at some local Family Dollar stores. But still curious about your opinion about Amazon items and what you would recommend to buy or not buy. Thank you!
www.youtube.com/@annjohns9939 you watch my last video, I show how to pack a soccer ball and pump and a water bottle along with the packing process in order, item by item. One tip is to use small pumps. I don't use the big pumps that come with the Franklin Soccer balls. They just take up too much room. Some people put the ball in the box and use it like a bowl--packing around and inside. That may work for you depending on what other items you are including.
@@pamelaknuutila1109 thank you, Pam. If I go again I will be sure to bring my own filler boxes with plush and school supplies. I’ve done that twice, but still they didn’t last long before we all ran out again. It is heartbreaking to experience. But if you go the first couple of days, I’m told those are good.
@@christym.814I always cry more the later in the season that I've worked. It's so overwhelming to see the difference between generous, culturally appropriate, packed with discernment boxes, compared to the ones with low quality items that will not last, or boxes with no school supplies at all. I am not sure what the solution is. I just know that the idea of boxes being fixed at the PC needs to be clarified and put to rest. What you are doing to suggest quality packing party items is very needed. If churches, project leaders, groups, and individuals would commit to quality, with a reasonable budget per box to accomplish it, Jesus will provide the increase. He is the multiplier who gives the harvest. Apart from Him, we do nothing, so the emphasis on more and more and more cheaply done boxes is futile. I do not believe it is biblical to think that higher quantities of cheaper boxes or half- filled boxes will produce a bigger harvest.
I totally agree with you about quality items, but if you say how you feel about items that are not quite quality some will say not kind, how do you make any progress with these individuals?
I’m trying to influence others by being an example and doing these packing parties has been successful because people who are helping me are noticing the quality and commenting that they hadn’t even thought of getting nice quality items on sale like I have. Also, it's important to encourage and educate others who may not have a clue about packing year round and finding deals and prioritizing quality items. If a lot of us continue to speak out, we can make a difference. Also, those who go to the processing centers may be influenced to see that we can't depend on the fillers at the processing centers to complete our shoeboxes. We should send boxes that glorify God and make it more likely for the child to feel God's love. Prayer is important too. But I've heard people say God can fill up the empty shoeboxes we send. That attitude is not helpful or honoring to God.
I thought that half full boxes would be supplemented with filler. I recently saw a post in a facebook group that fillers are only put in to replace forbidden items that are taken out. Do you know what is accurate?
Yes. There is no guarantee that fillers will be available when half full boxes come through. It’s frustrating. When I worked at the Chicago processing center they didn’t have fillers and I had to walk away from my station because seeing shoeboxes that just had a few things in them get taped up and put in the crates was very sad and emotional for me.
I have volunteered at the Charlotte PC for several years. The PC is often unable to fill up the air space of boxes that are not full. For example, we usually have to use most of what is in the filler bins at our station before more filler is added. There might not be any age or gender appropriate filler available for a box when it happens to come through the line. Last year we were adding XL size 10-14 men's sport socks because that's what was mostly in the filler bins when I happened to be working. It is absolutely heartbreaking to witness the discrepancies, and to think of boxes being opened side by side. I have seen what Christy experienced. 😢
I am beginning to think that it would be better if the person would pack fewer boxes and fill them than to make many half full boxes. Or they could find someone to partner with them, or let it be known that donations for the boxes would be gratefully appreciated.
I absolutely knew you would be able to pack all of those things inside the shoebox. I always appreciate your dedication to making sure they are full of high quality items!
Michelle has incredible talent that she uses for Gods glory! How darling are those shoe box lids? And yes, I do use her lid printables from her Blessings in a shoebox Facebook group!
Thank you. After I made the video, I came back to the box and rearranged one more time and I shocked myself when I found extra space somehow and was able to fit the Plus Plus tube in the box after all!🎉
Hi Christy, Thank you for sharing your box. Today, two of my daughters came over and we worked on getting stuff together--8 boxes for 2-4 years olds--"Bunny" theme. After watching a few of your videos, I decided to try the cardboard boxes for the first time, since the stuffed bunnies that I bought are a bit large. (I mostly use the nice plastic ones from Samaritan's Purse). The cardboard boxes are perfect. I also bought them because I have 7 recorders for the older girls that won't fit in the plastic boxes and regular shoe boxes are hard to come by for me at this time. Blessings...Kay
My 2 year old boy loves his ribbon ring (I got one for him when he was a baby to try to stop him pulling my hair) so I would put them in the boxes for the boys too!
Thank you so much for ALL tips and suggestions!!! You and Michelle are such a blessing!!! I’m somewhat new to OCC and I have a question. What size socks, underwear, shirts and clothing items do you get for the different age groups? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Christy, I ordered from Temu for over a year before becoming aware of what they’re doing, & now I have deleted my account & won’t be ordering from them ever again. Thank you for making me aware. God bless!
The menstrual pouches are wonderful. I was just thinking if you used a food saver and put them in a bag and removed as much air as you could they would take up less space in a shoebox. I have used this trick many times packing, it works great!
Super cute Paw Patrol box! We occasionally like to pack theme boxes. Often, we pack 3 or 4 themed items in a box then add items for color and fun. Usually in November we decorate the inner lid with our greeting card and photo or stickers and on occasion the inner lid becomes a tic tac toe board. We keep it simple.
I always enjoy your videos and get a lot of ideas from you. You were talking about sending love notes. I am concerned about the child receiving my note and not having anyone to translate it. I prayed about it and soon came across a video of a lady writing love notes with a simple but meaningful message that said God loves you Jesus loves you And I love you! Then I sign it. If the child or the translator only has a basic comprehension of English, they could probably understand the message.
Yes! Awesome! Often I use those same words. I also include my contact information and love getting pictures and notes from the recipient and/or parents. ❤
We want to be able to use the different resources in your videos (just found today!) but when I'm trying to go to the website it is saying it has been compromised and my browser won't let me open it. :(
Some great filler items! I’m glad to see blankets! My son, who retired from the army, says blankets are a much needed item for children! I’m actually including some very thick and fluffy Lego blankets in a few shoeboxes with Lego sets. The blankets were so thick and fluffy, though, I had to vacuum seal them to fit in the boxes and still allow for school supplies and fun things! I’m planning on purchasing some less bulky blankets to add to other boxes, though. As we did last year, I also plan to send anything left over for filler items. No sense in storing what can be a blessing to another child!
For us, after going to our first full circle speaker dinner and learned about Yve’s testimony telling us kids were not able to go to school without supplies, hubby and I have made school supplies our number one priority to pack in shoeboxes. We do also try to include some type of plush as well. Soap, washcloths and toothbrushes as well. Our downfall has been not having enough other things to fully fill the boxes. But after watching yours, D Rodgers and a few other RU-vidrs sharing ideas, we are definitely trying to make fuller boxes this year! Thank you for all your wonderful ideas!
What a great box! I really think the children may prefer a non-themed box. More variety. Also, this kind of video where you are packing, rather than unpacking the box is so very helpful to me. (Although I have learned a lot from the un-boxings too.) Thank you!
Thank you! Flat on the bottom. Big Wow with everything else packed around the wow. Then add the little gems wherever you can. I always tell myself, “Don’t send air”!
Christy, I appreciate how you fit so many nice items. That's more important to me than repeating the same character over and over. I like general themes, or none. For toddler girls, a quality, anatomically correct baby doll is developmentally appropriate and very special. I include one for all toddler girls and then, like you, see what size plush will fit. I like the little dresses and stretch bike shorts too for toddler girls. They will last for a long time, I think, by turning into a top. 😊
@@christym.814You surprise me! For a long time I needed my husband's mechanical, spatial brain help, and still do sometimes. He recommends that I keep watching you. 😂
Thank you, Linda, but I’m sure you do the same. 😊 Thank you for watching my channel through the years. May God bless your packing and the children who receive our shoeboxes! ❤
@@christym.814 This year I purchased the slightly larger plastic boxes at Walmart. I may go back to the official OCC boxes next year for the challenge!
@@lindahitchcock7112You'd be surprised -- because of the slanted sides of the plastic boxes, they don't hold as much as they look like. I think it was Christy who did a video where she compared both types of official OCC boxes by filling each with dried beans. The packable space inside was EXACTLY the same, even though everyone thinks the plastic boxes are bigger. The straight sides of the cardboard boxes make the difference. I bet the Walmart plastic boxes are close to or equal in useable capacity to the OCC plastic style.
@@Lunafalls Thank you for your thoughts. You are correct that the Sterilite boxes have slanted sides. When I place an OCC plastic box inside it, I have 2 inches more on the width and 1 1/4 in. more on the length. That may not be significant enough for some to use the larger box but this year I purchased the larger boxes so I am planning to send them. Next year I may take the challenge and get OCC traditional boxes again. I must have unconventional ideas this year, next year I may go traditional again, we'll see!
