I love and appreciate what both you and Michelle continue to stress. Number 1 is to pack good quality items in a fully packed box. These kids just receive one box in their lifetime. Let’s all pack in a way that would be pleasing unto the Lord and be a complete blessing to the children receiving them!
Dios omnipotente les bendiga y Guarde... Gracias por ese labor tan Hermoso ... Sabes dónde también necesitas esas cajitas en Venezuela soy del vigía estado Mérida
@@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 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!
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.
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.
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.
