Trekin' with the Cartwrights: Shoebox packing day!!!

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Shoebox packing day!!!

Each year, we pack shoeboxes for distribution to children through Operation Christmas Child. All through the year, we collect items to put into the shoeboxes - small toys, crayons, socks, pens/pencils, soap, washcloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste. I used to do just a few shoeboxes, and then I asked other friends to join in. Because of our travel, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to be part of the packing party this year - so the responsibility fell on the capable shoulders of my friend, Janell. She kept a spreadsheet of everything that had been bought, and tracked what was still needed. At the packing party last year, we set a goal to pack 100 shoeboxes - and we accomplished that today!

There were about 15-20 folks who helped with the packing today. Janell had pre-sorted a lot of things so they were already in groupings of 100 items - which meant distributing into the shoeboxes could go easily. We had 3 tables of "group" work - splitting the candy and note cards into 100 packages, and packaging the soap and washcloths into their own baggies. Others distributed grouped items into the 100 shoeboxes that were positioned down two sides of long tables for easy distribution.

When we were all done, re-positioning of items was done to ensure that tops could close and rubber bands were put around to ensure that the tops and bottoms stayed together.

This year, since we were a little later with getting the packing done, the processing center in Dallas was already open, so we were able to distribute the boxes directly to the processing center.

It was great fun, and we pray that the children who receive these shoebox gifts will receive not only the gifts that we packed, but the greatest gift of all, salvation through Jesus!