105 Operation Christmas Child: Shoe Box packing Ideas

Christmas Season is rapidly approaching. Many churches have already started collecting shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, ran by Samaritan's Purse. The box gives child hope. Many of those children don't have basic necessities: soap, toothbrush, comb...It saddens me just to think about it. 
I have been packing shoe boxes for several years now. Packing those boxes is a very rewarding experience.  Below are 105 ideas for the boxes. Remember those children have very little.

1. Water bottles--many kids don't have access to clean water,  Many live far from wells. A water bottle is appropriate for the children of different age groups, boys and girls.
2. Flashlight--many don't have electricity. It's also a good idea to include spare set of batteries.  
3. T-shirts--many children wear the same shirt everyday for many years. 
4. Tank tops for girls. Sometimes girls wear them as undershirts and regular shirts.
5. Socks--in many places cost too much money.
6. Underwear
7. Hair clips and hair elastics 
8. Combs and hairbrushes 
9. Toothbrush and toothbrush case 
10. Bar soap and soap case
11. Towels and washcloths 
12. Balls--baseball, tennis ball, and other small balls.
13. School supplies: calculator, eraser, pencil, pen, pencil sharpeners, ruler, pencil case
14. Coin purses
15. Markers
16. Pencil crayons
17. Bags--small enough to fit into the box
18. Ponchos--the best thing to face the rain
19. Sponges
20. Notebooks and notepads
21. Shoelaces
22. Band-aids
23. Headbands 
24. Sewing kits
25. Sticky tape (scotch tape)
26. Whistle
27. Ping-pong sets
28. Jumping ropes
29. Coloring books (younger children)
30. Thermoses
31. Canteens
32. Flip-flops
33. Bobby pins
34. Jewelry
35. Dental floss and toothpicks
36. Sewing kit
37. Scarves made of thing fabric 
38. Shorts (for boys)
39. Skirts
40. Tights and leggings
41. Hats
42. Gloves and tool/garden gloves 
43. Small blankets/quilts
44. Toys
45. Sketch pads
46. Bandanas and kerchiefs
47. Shawls
48. Paintbrushes and brushes (older boys help with constrution work)
49. Watercolor paint sets
50. Play dough
51. Spinning top
52. Dresses (for younger girls)
53. Puzzles
54. Belts and sashes
55. Blank cards
56. Key chains ans key cases
57. Measuring tape
58. Small whiteboards with a marker
59. Rubber toys (easy to wash)
60. Soccer balls with needle and pump)
61. Balloons 
62. Compass
63. Kazoos
64. Harmonicas
65. Binoculars
66. Flash cards (also known as Q-cards)
67. Leg warmers
68. Stickers
69. Plastic mirrors
70. Rain hats
71. Small lock (combination or key-lock)
72. Vests
73. Small chess/checkers sets
74. Yarn and knitting needles (girls 10-14) 
75. Embroidery floss/stranded cotton
76. Sippy cups
77. Small packs of tissues
78. Small portable radio
79. Small spatulas
80. Small cutting boards (for girls 10-14 years old)
81. Plastic magnifying glass
82. Craft kit
83. Stuffed toys
84. Small reusable containers
85. Plastic utensils
86. Chalk
87. Slinky 
88. Luggage strap (older children)
89. Folding umbrellas
90. Clothes pins
91. Fishing kits
92. Kaleidoscope
93. Small tools (boys 1--14)
94. Folding fishing pools
95. Small insect nets
96. Sleepers
97.  Body sponges
98. Watches 
99. Yo-yo
100. Screws in a pack (for boys 10-14)
101. Hammer (for boys 10-14 years old)
102. Cloth Ribbons 
103. Scissors in a plastic pack
104. Pack of batteries
105. A letter and a personal photo ( children love looking at pictures and letters/notes) 

Please remember to check the pamphlet for prohibited items: was toys, liquids, toothpaste, and any food, including hard candy.
National collection week is from November 16 till November 22, 2015.

My first shoe box for this year