At Because International, we believe two things about packing a Christmas shoebox.

1. Always prioritize quality over quantity.
2. You don’t have to spend a lot of money when packing a higher-quality box. 

Before diving into these, let’s talk about what a Christmas shoebox is and why it’s an important cause. 

What is a Christmas shoebox? 

Nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse has a program called Operation Christmas Child that offers a hands-on way to support children worldwide by filling shoeboxes with essential and fun items. These Christmas shoeboxes generally include an item for school, personal care, crafting, a toy, clothing and a “wow” item of your choice. It’s a great program that provides millions of children with a gift over the holidays that supports their health and education.

How to pack a Christmas shoebox

Packing a Christmas shoebox is rewarding, but walking down store aisles and selecting everything you want to include can also be fun. Many people visit their local dollar store to fill boxes at an affordable price—allowing them to pack more boxes overall. However, the downside is that dollar store items often lack durability, diminishing their value and longevity for the children who receive them.

Why you should prioritize quality over quantity

Focusing on high-quality items will make a more significant and lasting impact on the child who receives your shoebox, providing joy and dignity for longer. For example, packing a water filtration device rather than a plastic water bottle or a pair of The Shoe That Grows (a shoe that expands five sizes) rather than a pair of flip-flops. Both options will protect the child for years rather than a few months, supporting them for as long as possible. 

How to pack a Christmas shoebox with quality and affordability in mind 

While high-quality items may be more expensive than others, you can find ways to make them more affordable. Shopping sales year-round, fundraising throughout the year, or bulk purchasing for yourself or as a group can lower your total cost per box without compromising quality. 

We recently visited Costco to see what it would be like to fill 20 boxes with items found in the store, knowing we’d also want to include The Shoe That Grows in each box. Here’s what we found. 

School supply item: A 22-pack of pens ($12.49)
Activity item: Two 10-pack book sets ($33.57)
Clothing item: 20-pack of socks ($19.99)
Personal care item: A 20-pack of bar soap ($12.99)
Costco total: $79.04 ($3.95 per box)
Total cost with The Shoe That Grows: $23.95 per box

In addition to these items, we saw plenty of other options like bulk containers of toothbrushes, sticker sets, notepads, and menstrual pads—all of which you can easily purchase in bulk at stores or online. Any extras (like from the 22-pack of pens) can be saved for the following year to lower costs. 

The bottom line: Packing a high-quality box doesn’t need to be expensive

We are so grateful for anyone who packs a Christmas shoebox for a child impacted by poverty but whenever possible, we encourage you to include high-quality items. By researching, planning ahead and buying in bulk, you can easily create a wonderful Christmas shoebox that lasts for around $25. 

If you’d like to fundraise for The Shoe That Grows or talk to us about ordering enough pairs to receive free shipping, please reach out to us at info@becauseinternational.org.Or, if you're ready, you can place your order below!