Whether you are new to packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes or are looking for new and unique items to add to your boxes, our big list of shoebox gift ideas is sure to inspire you to pack a gift that children around the world will love!
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Shoeboxes ideally contain a mix of several different types of items, but they should always focus on FUN! Try to pack as much as you can in the box (don’t send air, LOL) and they should always include at least one WOW item, which is a larger or more valuable item than others in the box. This is something like a doll, a soccer ball and pump, a large stuffed animal or a musical instrument.
Everyone’s versions of what is important and what is a WOW item can vary. It all depends on your heart and what you are called to do. There is no right or wrong answer as long as you’ve filled the box to the best of your abilities and send it with love.
We’ve listed all of the categories below, and you can choose something from each category, or just focus on one or two categories. Whatever you decide, though, make sure that you add more fun items (think stuffed animals, balls, games, etc.) rather than “aid” items, such as hygiene or clothing.
*This list is acceptable items sent from the United States, however every country may have slightly different rules and regulations regarding customs. You will need to confirm what is allowed to be sent from your country. The easiest way to check what is allowed is to use this easy search function to type in your item and get an immediate response as to whether it is allowed or not. You can also email Samaritan’s Purse.
What Age to Pack For
Before deciding to pack an OCC shoebox, you will need to decide what age and gender you will want to pack for.
Age ranges are:
- 2-4 Years
- 5-9 Years
- 10-14 Years
While many of the items will be the same for all ages, there are definitely differences between packing for a 2-year old girl and a 14-year old boy.
Once you have chosen an age, then it is time to get shopping!
Fun Ideas
Samaritan’s Purse has requested that shoeboxes be more fun that practical. They suggest at least one WOW item in a shoebox, which is usually a fun item.
Add as many fun gifts in a shoebox as you can to bring a child joy!
- Stickers
- Coloring Book
- Learn to Draw Book
- Puzzle Books
- Lego Blocks (or Lego-like blocks from Dollar Tree, Target, etc.) plus carrying case
- Playing Cards
- Dominoes (with instructions)
- Dice
- Soccer Ball (deflated with air pump included)
- Football (deflated with air pump included)
- Basketball (deflated with air pump included)
- Kick Ball (deflated with air pump included)
- Volleyball (deflated with air pump included)
- Baseball and Glove
- Tennis Ball
- Foam Ball
- Small Bouncy Balls (make sure age appropriate)
- Inflatable Beach Ball
- Inflatable Globe Ball (from Dollar Tree)
- Jump Rope
- Squirt Guns (fine to send as long as they don’t look like real weapons)
- Nerf Guns
- Pom Poms (cheerleader style)
- Finger Puppets
- Puppets
- Colorforms
- Frisbee (especially foldable Frisbees)
- Play Doh (with plastic cookie cutters to use)
- Building Blocks
- Wind-Up Toys
- Slinky
- Barbies or other fashion dolls
- Action Figures
- Little People (2-4 years old age group)
- Stuffed Animals (all sizes, from keychain to large)
- Dolls
- Doll Clothes (here are 23 free sewing patterns for Barbie clothes)
- Doll Blanket
- Doll Sleeping Bag
- Dinosaurs
- Plastic Animal figurines
- Cars and Trucks
- Toy Motorcycles
- Hot Wheels and Matchbox Cars
- Playmat for cars (you can make a DIY car play mat)
- Whistle
- Music Makers (tambourine, maracas, mini drum, recorder, etc.)
- Wrist Bells / Bell Bracelets
- Harmonica
- Dancing Ribbon
- Fairy Wands
- Tulle skirts (often found at Dollar Tree in the toy section)
- Yo-Yo
- Marbles with instructions and a marble storage bag
- Puzzle
- Wooden puzzle
- Fidget toys
- Fidget spinners
- Costumes and Dress Up Play Items (such as fairy wings, wigs)
- Tiara
- Fabric crown
- Cape
- Nail stickers or jewels
- Temporary tattoos
- Checkers Game (with instructions)
- Tic-Tac-Toe Game
- Matching Game
- Spin Top
- Foam Airplane / Paper Airplane Kit
- Pick-Up Sticks Game
- Rubik’s cube
- Kaleidoscope
- Ping Pong Paddles and Balls
- Picture Book (limited words, heavy on pictures)
- Binoculars
- Kite
- Hacky Sack
- Plastic play food
- Rubber Ducky
- Mini Chalkboard and Chalk
- Etch a Sketch
- Doodle Pad (electronic)
- Magnifying Glass (plastic, not glass)
- Travel-sized Games
- Balloons
- Leis
- Flower crowns
- Music Box
Useful Items
- Lap blanket (Snuggie)
- Flashlight (especially a solar-powered or crank-powered flashlight; if battery operated, send extra batteries)
- Small Camping lantern (especially solar powered)
- Hammock
- Utensils and Utensil Case
- Umbrella
- Plate (plastic)
- Bowl (plastic)
- Cup (plastic)
- Water Bottle
- Fun Plastic Straw
- Measuring Tape
- Garden Kit (shovel, trowel, gloves; NO seeds)
- Fishing Kit
- Small fishing pole (expandable)
- Tools (hammer, screwdriver, wrench)
- Multi-tool
- Work Gloves
- Zip Ties
- Bungee Cords
- Caribeeners
- Duct Tape (especially in fun colors and prints)
- Paracord
- Compass
- Baking Kit (measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula, collapsible mixing bowl, small baking pan, apron, chef’s hat)
- Jewelry Box
- Magnets
- Safety Pins
- Plastic Zip Top Bags (great for putting items in so that they can reuse them)
School Supplies
Many children are not allowed to go to school without having school supplies. These items will help the child in school and may be a welcome gift.
- Pencil Case or Pencil Pouch
- Notebook
- Composition Book
- Note Pads
- Journal
- Loose Leaf Notebook Paper (either wide or college ruled)
- Craft Paper
- Pencils
- Pens
- Novelty Pens
- Markers
- Crayons
- Highlighters
- Pencil Sharpeners
- Colored Pencils
- Eraser (one large, several small, fun shapes, etc.)
- Scissors (make sure age appropriate)
- Ruler (with metric measurements)
- Calculator
- Index Cards
- Pencil Toppers (fun)
- Glue stick (NO liquid glue)
- Dry Erase Board and Marker
- Paper Clips
- Binder Clips
- Post-It Notes
- Backpack
Craft Kits and Crafting Supplies
Make sure that any crafting kit is sent with all appropriate supplies and does not require liquid glue or liquid paint to make. Do not assume that the child will be able to purchase or find necessary items.
All kits should have simple instruction sheets provided. English might not be the first language, so look for printable instructions that rely more on images, rather than words, or are printed in multiple languages.
- Sewing Kit
- Pill Bottle Sewing Kit
- Knitting Kit
- Crochet Kit
- Friendship Bracelet Kit
- Bead Jewelry Kit
- Paracord Bracelet kit
- Knot Tying Kit
- Wood Craft Kit
- Sewing patterns (and supplies necessary)
- Any Type of Craft Kit (without liquid paint or glue)
- Art kit (watercolors, paper, paint brushes, paint sets, oil pastels)
- Sketch Pad
- Ink Stampers
- Grid paper
- Embroidery kits
- Lacing Cards (2-4 year olds)
- Crafting supplies (felt, fabric, ribbon, elastic, needles, embroidery floss)
Clothing and Shoes
When purchasing clothing items, it is best to buy for the oldest age in the age group. For example, for a box for 2-4 year olds, buy 4T or 5T items to make sure that any child in that age range will be able to use the clothing. They can always grow into the items and keep them for longer.
Here are the general sizes for each age group:
Age 2-4 (Clothes 3T-5T; Shoes 8-12)
Ages 5-9 (Clothes 6-10/12; Shoes 1-5)
Ages 10-14 (Clothes 10/12-18; Shoes 4-10)
- T-shirt
- Long Sleeve Shirt
- Sweatshirt
- Jacket
- Hoodie
- Dress
- T-shirt Dress
- Pillowcase Dress
- Skirt with adjustable/elastic waist
- Sports Bra
- Baseball Hat
- Bucket Hat
- Fleece Hat (it’s easy to sew a fleece hat with a pom pom top)
- Handkerchief
- Underwear
- Socks
- Knee Socks
- Shorts
- Pants
- Jogging Pants
- Reusable Poncho
- Scarf
- Mittens or Gloves
- Flip Flops
- Sandals
- Black Shoes (especially important for school)
- Crocs
- Slippers
- Shoelaces
- Adjustable Shoes (grow in size as the child grows)
Accessories
Small accessories are great for tucking into small spaces. Girls aren’t the only ones that love jewelry and fashion accessories. Boys will enjoy sunglasses, cross necklaces, beaded or leather-like bracelets, and bags for carrying their items or school supplies.
- Sunglasses
- Sunglasses Case (How to Sew a Sunglasses Case)
- Scrunchies (here’s how to make scrunchies with hair ties)
- Hair Barrettes
- Hair Bows
- Headband
- Headwrap
- Pony Tail Holders
- Jewelry
- Necklace (especially a cross necklace; suede or leather make great cords for boys)
- Mardi Gras style bead necklaces
- Scarf
- Quality sports watch (especially if solar powered)
- Friendship Bracelets
- Stretch rubber bracelets
- Slap bracelets
- Trendy bracelets (such as coils, holiday, pop fidget bracelets, etc.)
- Earrings (pierced or clip on)
- Pins
- Change Purse
- Purse
- Small Totebag
- Drawstring Backpack (you can easily sew a drawstring backpack)
- Bandana
- Wallet
- Jewelry Box
- Jewelry Pouch
Personal Care
- Toothbrush (put in a plastic bag or use a cap)
- Extra toothbrushes (for the child or their family)
- Hair Brush
- Comb (wide-toothed comb is best)
- Nail File
- Lip Balm (must be non-medicated; no lip gloss)
- Band-Aids (non-medicated)
- First Aid Kit
- Nail Clippers
- Nail kit
- Deodorant
- Makeup (non liquid; consider powder blush, face powder or eye-shadow)
- Mirror (non-breakable, no glass)
- Feminine hygiene kits (reusable pads and carrying case)
- Washcloth
- Towel tablets (expand with water)
Additional Items
- Postcard
- Greeting Card
- Handwritten note
- Personal photo (family photo or photo of your church family or packing party)
- Valentine’s Day cards (small classroom variety)
- Inspirational Quote Cards
What You CANNOT Pack
These items cannot be packed due to customs. Every shoebox is opened and checked at a processing center before being shipped. If any of these items are inside, they will be removed.
- Liquids
- Vaseline
- Toothpaste
- Lotions
- Soap
- Food
- Candy
- Gum
- Glass
- Aerosol sprays
- Seeds
- Anything That Melts
- Camouflage of any kind (clothing, bandanas, toys, fabric)
- War-related items or figurines (toy guns; knives, military figures, green army men)
- Breakable Items
- Snowglobes
- Balls with water inside
- Drink Mixes
- Vitamins
- Medicines or Anything Medicated
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Nail Polish
- Lip Gloss or Lip Oil
- Used or Damaged Items
- Liquid Glue
- Liquid Paint
What Type of Shoeboxes
Once you buy some fun items, you will need to pack them to send. There are several options you can use that are approved by Operation Christmas Child:
- Official OCC cardboard shoeboxes (these red and green boxes can be purchased online in bulk or you may get a few from your church or local drop-off location)
- Official OCC plastic shoeboxes (these red and green plastic shoeboxes are a gift in itself because the box can be reused by the child and their family; these boxes can be ordered online in bulk and are sometimes available to purchase at Hobby Lobby)
- Any cardboard shoebox (any medium-size shoebox will work, it doesn’t have to be the exact same size as the OCC boxes; consider asking friends, family and even shoe stores for shoe boxes that they won’t use)
- Photo Storage Boxes (the colorful decorated kind that are often found at Michaels and craft supply stores)
- Plastic shoeboxes (Walmart shoeboxes are great; Dollar Tree shoeboxes have been reported to break more easily upon shipping)
While not required, many people enjoy decorating the inside and/or outside of the boxes.
You could draw pictures on the interior of the box lid, or paste artwork, such as postcards, calendar pages or photos. Several websites and Facebook groups create free file downloads with custom artwork that is the exact size of a shoebox lid. Usually these images are bright and kid-friendly and include a Bible verse.
Decorating the outside of a shoebox is also allowed. Stickers, tape and decals are the best way to add color. However, it is not recommended to wrap the outside of the box base and lid with gift wrap because it can be torn in transit.
NEVER wrap the entire box in gift wrap because it will be opened. All boxes are opened in a processing center before being shipped to make sure that there are no prohibited items inside that would be removed by international customs.
Helpful Tips for Packing OCC Shoeboxes
- Personal notes and family photos are among the most treasured gifts sent in shoeboxes. The children feel a connection with the people in America (or other countries) that have sent them gifts. There are many stories of children hanging the photo they received on their walls and thinking of the gift-givers as friends or family. While not required, it is highly suggested to include a handwritten note. You may choose to include your email address just in case the recipient is able and would like to send a thank you. Photos are also very well loved.
- Shop after-holiday clearance sales for great prices on items kids love. Keep in mind that in other countries they will not know what Valentine’s Day or Halloween might be, so those toys and clothing can be sent for year round enjoyment.
- Thrift stores can be great places to get inexpensive items, too. While you cannot send used items (such as dolls or clothing that have obviously been worn or are stained and damaged) you still can find new or like-new items and clothing at thrift stores that are suitable.
- Several wholesale websites feature great supplies at a discounted price for shoeboxes. Lion Wholesale, WOW supplies, and Western Star Wholesale have great items ideal for packing.
- Other online retail sites, such as Oriental Trading and Amazon Haul, are also great places to get inexpensive items.
- While the shoeboxes are collected before Thanksgiving, that does not mean that the boxes will reach the children on Christmas. Many countries do not receive their boxes until February or March. While Christmas items are welcome any time of the year, you do not need to theme your box for Christmas holidays.
- Remove all packaging or cut down the packaging to reduce waste and fit in as much as possible into a shoebox. For instance, you could remove puzzle pieces from a box, cut out a picture of the puzzle from the front of the box, and put the picture and puzzle pieces in a zip-top plastic bag to save space. Consider removing plastic fashion dolls from the plastic packaging, etc.
- Consider theme boxes, such as boxes where everything features a certain cartoon character or color. These aren’t required, but many people have fun choosing a theme (sports, animal, color, animated character, etc.) and searching for items all year long.
- If sending a water bottle or cup, be sure to pack items inside to save room and get more things in the box.
- Many items can be handmade for the shoeboxes. Check out this list of 18 Sewing Projects for Operation Christmas Child.
SAMPLE SHOEBOX IDEA: Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ideas for Boys Age 10-14
Many people are worried about packing boxes for boys age 10-14. That’s why this age group receives some of the fewest amount of boxes each year.
However, packing a box for boys doesn’t have to be complicated! You can easily find some great ideas that older boys will love. Check out this big list of gift ideas for older boys. Not all of these need to be included, but you can get quite a few in a packed shoebox.
For additional inspiration, see my YouTube video of what I packed in a Box for Boys 10-14.
***This was my first box that I packed. I have since learned I’d love to add more fun items and less “aid” items such as tools and hygiene. Please note that soap is no longer allowed. And I would not add in the shower curtain liner again when packing boxes.
- Stickers
- Learn to Draw Book
- Puzzle Books
- Lego Blocks (or Lego-like blocks from Dollar Tree, Target, etc.) plus carrying case
- Playing Cards
- Dominoes (with instructions)
- Dice
- Sports Ball, such as soccer, football, basketball or kick ball (deflated with air pump included)
- Baseball and Glove
- Tennis Ball
- Foam Ball
- Small Bouncy Balls
- Inflatable Globe Ball (from Dollar Tree)
- Jump Rope
- Nerf Guns
- Frisbee (especially foldable Frisbees)
- Slinky
- Action Figures
- Stuffed Animals (all sizes, from keychain to large)
- Dinosaurs
- Cars, Trucks or Motorcycles (especially Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars)
- Whistle
- Harmonica
- Yo-Yo
- Marbles with instructions and a bag
- Puzzle
- Fidget toys or spinners
- Checkers Game or travel size games (with instructions)
- Tic-Tac-Toe Game
- Spin Top
- Foam Airplane / Paper Airplane Kit
- Pick-Up Sticks Game
- Rubik’s cube
- Ping Pong Paddles and Balls
- Binoculars
- Kite
- Hacky Sack
- Etch a Sketch
- Doodle Pad (electronic)
- Magnifying Glass (plastic, not glass)
- Flashlight or small lantern (especially a solar-powered or crank-powered flashlight; if battery operated, send extra batteries)
- Hammock
- Utensils and Utensil Case
- Umbrella
- Plate (plastic)
- Bowl (plastic)
- Cup (plastic)
- Water Bottle
- Measuring Tape
- Fishing Kit
- Small fishing pole (expandable)
- Tools (hammer, screwdriver, wrench)
- Multi-tool
- Work Gloves
- Zip Ties
- Bungee Cords
- Caribeeners
- Duct Tape (especially in fun colors and prints)
- Paracord
- Compass
- School Supplies: (Pencil Pouch, Notebook, Composition Book, Note Pads, Journal, Loose Leaf Notebook Paper, Pencils, Pens, Markers, Highlighters, Pencil Sharpeners, Colored Pencils, Erasers, Scissors, Ruler (with metric measurements), Calculator, Index Cards, Paper Clips, Binder Clips, Post-It Notes)
- Dry Erase Board and Marker
- Backpack
- Craft Kit: Paracord Bracelet kit; Knot Tying Kit; Wood Craft Kit
- Art kit (watercolors, paper, paint brushes, paint sets, oil pastels)
- Sketch Pad
- Grid paper
- Clothing (T-shirt, Long Sleeve Shirt, Sweatshirt, Jacket, Hoodie, Hat (Baseball, Bucket or Fleece), Underwear, Socks, Shorts, Pants, Jogging Pants)
- Reusable Poncho
- Scarf
- Mittens or Gloves
- Shoes (Flip Flops, Sandals, Black Shoes, Crocs, Adjustable Shoes)
- Shoelaces
- Sunglasses and Sunglass Case
- Necklace (especially a cross necklace; suede or leather make great cords for necklaces for boys)
- Watch
- Stretch rubber bracelets / Slap bracelets / Trendy bracelets (such as pop fidget bracelets, etc.)
- Drawstring Backpack or Small Totebag
- Bandana
- Wallet
- Hygiene Items (Toothbrushes, Comb, Lip Balm, Band-Aids (non-medicated); First Aid Kit, Nail Clippers or Nail kit, Deodorant, Washcloth)
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If you pack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, I’d love to hear what you pack or if there are some other items that should be on the list! Leave me a comment and let me know!
