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This is it! After months of gathering gifts and lovingly preparing shoeboxes, your gifts are ready to go out to children around the world. Isn’t that exciting? (If you’re new to my blog, you can read all about our Operation Christmas Child project here.)
Now it’s time to begin planning for next year. If you have a bit of funds and extra storage space, it’s a good idea to shop for shoebox items all year round. Here’s how to get the best deals on your gifts:
- Visit major retailers during the first several days after national holidays. Many stores mark down prices on holiday products as much as 90%. Moreover, lots of these items are quite generic and can be used at any time of the year.
- If you’re a thrift store shopper, watch for gifts appropriate for shoeboxes. It’s not unusual to find new, still-in-the-package items that were donated to thrift stores.
- Do you know someone good at couponing? Ask them to alert you to good deals you can find by combining sales with coupons. Examples are toothbrushes and soap.
- Samaritan’s Purse posts a great list of monthly themes for shoebox shopping. You can find it here.
- While planning your facility’s activities for the upcoming year, include craft projects that will make great Operation Christmas Child gifts.
- Consider fundraising activities to raise money to cover shipping costs for next year’s boxes. Check out this site for tons of great ideas.
I would love to hear how many shoeboxes your group packed this year. Please also let me know where your boxes are going, and any Operation Christmas Child tips you wish to share for next year. Thank you!
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