This year as you start to gear up for the holiday season, consider making your Operation Christmas Child gifts go further by investing in quality, lasting items for your box.

This giving guide is organized by important aspects of a child’s life. Each one fulfills a different need, so include them all in your box or just scan this list for inspiration.

EDUCATION ITEM: BRIGHTER FUN BEESWAX CRAYON SET

Pack this sweet crayon set in your shoebox to brighten a child’s day. The set is made of natural beeswax, so they can color without the chemicals! This crayon set is by Brighter Fun, a family-owned company that focuses on “fun ways to connect with kids and their feelings.”

PERSONAL CARE ITEM: MOSQUITO REPELLENT SOAP

Uganics is a Ugandan-based company producing organic, mosquito repellent soap. Including a Uganics soap bar in your shoebox is a compact way to send daytime protection against malaria. The soap can be used to wash clothes or lather on skin for a mosquito repellent that lasts 5–6 hours after each application. 

“WOW” ITEM: THE SHOE THAT GROWS

The Shoe That Grows expands five sizes, lasting for years to prevent children in poverty from getting soil-transmitted diseases. The Shoe is versatile—kids can wear them to school, while doing chores or while playing with friends! Putting a pair of The Shoe That Grows in your shoebox will help a child not only this Christmas, but for many Christmases to come.

EDUCATION ITEM: BEGIN AGAIN ART SET

The Begin Again Art Set is great for kids ages 5–9. Including supplies for writing, designing, and more, this art set packs lots of fun into one small carrying case. An art set like this one helps children develop fine motor skills and use their creativity!

It can be overwhelming to decide on which gifts to send especially if you are stretching a budget, so here are a few guidelines for thinking about how to fill your shoebox.

Versatility: Can the child receiving this gift use the item in an open-ended way or for multiple purposes? Since you don’t know if this child loves astronauts, dolphins or robots, open-ended toys and neutral clothing lets them use their imagination to create and wear what they love!

Quality: Will this gift last? Fewer high-quality items will last longer than lots of tiny toys. Think about what they’ll still be using come next Christmas.

Utility: Is this gift useful? It’s so fun to pack a box full of toys, but adding a few useful personal care and education items can help equip a child in more ways. During this particularly difficult time, items that meet immediate needs can be especially helpful.