Christmas Shoeboxes

We love making Christmas shoeboxes!  These shoeboxes are sent all around the world as Christmas presents for children.  The biggest program of this sort is Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan's Purse.  We have participated in this program before and love it!  The shoeboxes I made below are actually part of a program through our church for Bulgaria so please note that candy is allowed in these shoeboxes but that Operation Christmas Child does not allow candy.  Besides the candy, the rest of the items should work well for any Christmas shoebox program!  To find out more, visit Operation Christmas Child.  They also have some good tips on things to include/not include.

I made 3 Christmas shoeboxes and picked all girls around 4 years old.  Since I have boys, sometimes it's fun to buy girly stuff!  I like getting the same age and gender if I'm doing multiple shoeboxes so that I can buy multipacks of items and split them up.  When my children were younger, I would pick boys around their ages and involve them in picking out items for our shoeboxes.  It's such an easy way to involve our kids in giving to others!

I usually try not to get too many character items in case the child doesn't know the character or pick items with well known characters.  I also try to get dolls that may have the same skin coloring as the child.  Be sure to keep the age of the child in mind.  I didn't get any small items that might be a choking hazard since these girls were only 4 years old.

I like to do a plastic shoebox since it's sturdier and the child can use it for storage.  The shoeboxes have to be checked for items inside so I tie on a red and green tulle bow that can easily be slipped on and off.  It makes it a little more festive though!

Here are the items that I included to give you some ideas! (all of these items were purchased at Walmart)  To pack the shoebox, start with the coloring book then add items biggest to smallest.

• sunglasses
• small pouch with hair ties
• hair barrettes
• travel hairbrush with mirror
• toothbrush
• bracelets
• Band-Aids
• coloring book
• crayons
• small paper pads
• stickers
• socks and underwear
• My Little Pony
• stuffed animal
• light up ball
• small car
• playdoh and cookie cutters
• noise makers/kazoo
• small doll mermaid
• squishy unicorn
• flashlight
• smarties and ring pops (candy not allowed for Operation Christmas Child)

It's so fun to think of a child thousands of miles away opening a shoebox we made just for them to celebrate Christmas!