Hello! Im from the Philippines. We just distributed Christmas boxes to the kids from Samaritans purse yesterday. ❤️ kids were so happy. 😊 Thank you to all who supports this ministry! God bless you.

whos watching in 2019?!!

My mom started packing shoeboxes many years ago. As I grew up, we did them together. She has passed away and I consider it a special bond that I continue to pack an extra one in her name each year .... hugs

My friends family and I collect stuff all year and we made 201 boxes this year! It took us two days!

My class got together to do this, and our whole school packed 80 boxes

If the kids that get my boxes enjoy them half as much as I enjoy packing them, then I've been successful! I shop sales all year round. I tend to be heavy on school supply things (professional hazard).

This is the best ministry.  My church does this every year.  I teach Sunday school and we let the children pack the boxes with items they bring in.  It's a good lesson on giving.

Please take the packaging off before you send! You will have much more room! They have no garbage pickup or recycling
like we do here in the states!

I love doing boxes and i usually spend alot on each box, i want my childs box to have as much as possible. Im blessed to have everything i need in life so giving back feels so great. I have so much fun doing them. My wow item is usually a cute outfit and pj's plus one toy that is more than 10 or 15 dollars. I always pack lots of school supplies too plus feminine items for older girls

I get so excited when it comes time for the operation Christmas child. I’ve been  doing this since I was 7, I’m 18 now and still do it 🖤 it makes me feel so good

The best thing is the brush/mirror compact, some of these kids have never had a mirror to look at themselves...there are so many neat things in these boxes and pencils too.

Our "Wow" items this year are Barbie dolls for girls and soccer balls with a ball pump for the boys.  I find Barbie's, still in the boxes, at flea markets and from friends, as low as $2 each.  I also find them sometimes at Tuesday Morning, for around $5 or $6. (I do take them out of the box, but at least they are new!)  I buy size 4 soccer balls, deflated, and then kind of wrap the ball around the pump so it will fit in the box.  

For hair supplies, I buy colored bobbi pins, plastic hair clips, Scrunchii's, etc and then make up little tulle bags filled with them (like those used for wedding favors.) Each girl gets an assortment of hair accessories, and I think that the pretty little bags would make a little girl feel very special.

I'm a 13 year old from the UK and i'm really excited to do it this year! I have never done it before and I can't wait to make someone happy!

I always put a cap on the toothbrushes. Helps them keep them clean when they aren't using it.

Age ranges are 2-4. 5-9 and 10-14!:)Could I suggest that you added notepads/notebooks/paper in your boxes!:) Paper is really important for them to have.

Did this for the first time this year and just turned them in yesterday at church.  We opted to pack boxes for 10-14 years old because we were told that age group had the least amount of boxes packed.  My plan is to start collecting items throughout the year so we can have a packing party with the family next year and pack a whole bunch of boxes.  It was truly a wonderful experience.

I packed a box in 2018 (girl 2-4) and I'll do 4 boxes for 2019 😊 it's just so much fun, especially because  I can't have children on my own, at least I can go through all the cute and fun kids stuff! And because I wont have to spend money on my own kids, I take a little more money for my boxes and pack them with high quality and all my heart ❤ So I plan 10 - 12€ per month per box to pack them year-around - this way I don't have to spend much money in only one or two months. I guess that's the best hint, look for sales all year and spend a small amount of money every month.
So my must have item is a stuffed  animal! No matter what age or gender you pack for, it's a stuffed friend for lifetime 🐭🐺🦊🐑Boxes from Germany go to countries with cold winters, so another must have are gloves, a warm hat and - if it fits - a scarf. What's also going in every single box of mine are a toothbrush and toothpaste, 2in1 shower gel+shampoo, hairbrush (girls) / comb (boys), colored pencils, notebooks, a filled penicil case and a (cotton) bag 😊 (here we have a drug store which sells organic cotton bags for 2€ each and the colors of the bags changes from month to month🛍)

These are great things you packed in those boxes. I haven't packed a box for occ so far, but I did something similar. I'm from Germany and we have a tradition called Schultüte in English Schoolcone. When  kids start school they get such a cone from their parents, grandparents or aunt or uncle. The cones are filled with candys, toys and school items. Back in 2016 when many refugees came to Germany I packed such a cone for a little girl from Afghanistan. I put in pencils, a jumping rope, bouncy ball, hair accessories, a magic towel, tattoos, stickers, an umbrella, a waterbottle and much more. It was great to see that girls eyes and smile when she received and opened her cone.

I always pack extra toothbrushes because I heard a story where a little girl was so excited to have her own toothbrush because she had to share hers with 25 other girls at the orphanage.  I wrap the soap in a wash cloth before I put it in a ziplock.  I packed 9 boxes this year and I am delighted that little boys and girls will be so happy to receive them.  I also get the pencil pouches and make up little school kits with pens, crayons, erasers, pencil sharpener and scissors etc.  I buy things all year longs when they are on sale which helps me able to get more bank for the buck.

We pack them every year... Super awesome way to show your kids how to give someone that may not get anything for Christmas.