I am going to start a wish list for items we will need for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes for 2026. I will be adding more to it, as I get through the supplies that I have.

This year, we did an awesome 92 shoe boxes. Next year I am hoping we can hit 100 in church plus my 24 for a total of 124 shoe boxes. That will take a lot of items to fill all of them but we can do it. Our packing party did 66 shoe boxes in about 2- 2 1/2 hours with around 6 people participating.

Soccer Balls. Children in other countries LOVE soccer balls with a pump included of course and extra needles are a necessity if one breaks. I got mine last year at Western Star Wholesale which includes one needle and one pump and they have extra needles for around 20 for $2.00 or so. If we can combine an order and get to $300, we can get free shipping but otherwise it was around $20 for what I ordered and what others ordered this year. Any amount of soccer balls are appreciated though, especially good quality ones. Kids can involve their friends and others in the neighborhood with one soccer ball and one pump.

Notebooks...please be sure they are flexible or can fit flat on the bottom of the shoe boxes. The ones that are difficult or impossible to bend, that don't fit flat in the bottom, are too difficult to put in the shoe boxes without taking up too much room, if they fit at all

Stuffed animals and dolls for WOW items. Medium size are best as the large ones may overfill the shoe box and make it impossible to put a variety of items in there. Soft dolls are perfect but others taken as well. Hopefully good quality so they will last a long time since these are gifts from Jesus, who loves them.

Toothbrushes are a must. Individually wrapped ones are best but larger packages can be split up and put in ziploc bags as well. Some of the tooth brush caps can come off or break but are an option if they last.

Crayons and coloring books are perfect gifts as kids know what to do with them, even if they don't understand English. Flexible ones and those that fit flat in the bottom are best. I sometimes put in circle books that have more simple words but I don’t put in Sudoku as I don't even understand them so a child who doesn't speak English, probably wouldn't either. Crossword puzzles may also be difficult for children who don't speak English. Picture books for toddlers are also great as they can look at the pictures if they can't read the words. Again, flexible books or those that fit flat in the bottom are best.

I try to put at least one pair socks and one pair underwear in every shoe box. I think I have quite a few but need to do inventory in the spring/summer to see what I have in storage.

Pencils and pencil sharpeners. I try to include one already sharpened pencils so kids can start using their pencils right away instead of digging out the sharpener and needing to sharpen them first. I have some pencil sharpeners but not enough.

The interior dimensions of a cardboard OCC shoebox is roughly 12 x 7 x 4 3/8 inches.

I will add more to the wish list later, as I think of things we will need.

January and February will be great months to shop for Christmas themed items when they drop to 70%, 75% and even 90% if any are left to go that low such as Christmas stuffed animals, Christmas themed games and coloring books, clothing, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D84zvRzT7/