Trade Show Freebies

My husband attends various trade shows across Canada, as an exhibitor for our family business and I often tag along. Many exhibitors give away freebies, as promotional items.  With Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes in mind, I snag as many items as I can, that are suitable for packing in shoe boxes.

This last week, we attended the Regina Farm Progress Show.  While the show is three days long, I attended for a couple of hours and was able to snag these goodies:

Some items may be hard to see.  There's a hat, beach ball, regular and mini sized footballs, coloring books, stickers/tattoos, pens, pencils, a flat water bottle, notepads, microfiber clothes, reusable shopping bag and of course, I snagged the soap and personal hygiene items from the hotel room.
I plan to deflate the beachball, to pack as efficiently as possible.  I would also deflate the football and include a pump (which I would have to purchase).  The great thing about including`a larger sized ball (soccer balls are great too) is that a whole group of kids can play with it.  I think most, if not all, of these items would lend themselves well to a shoe box for an older boy.

Looney Tunes 10-14 Boys Box

Michaels was clearing out Looney Tunes paper, stickers, pens, erasers, pencils at 80% off.  So this boy will get to enjoy it.  I also added a chess game, geometry set, pencil case.wash cloth, notebook, candy, soap, toothbrush, ball, sissor, car and shirt.

What are your favorite things to add to a 10-14 boys box?

Multiple Monday

This is one of my favorite pictures.  Love his smile!

And I love packing these glasses.  You can find them in Walmart in the Party section.

6 for $1.00.  Great value, and worth every smile!

Friday Favorites- baseball glove and ball.

I heard and was trying to find the story of a boy who was praying for a baseball glove.  And was so excited when he opened his box and found a brand new baseball glove and ball.   Ever since hearing this story I have been on the lookout for gloves.

I was thrilled to find these on clearout at Wal-mart. They are for younger boys,  I am still praying for gloves for older boys.
Have you ever packed baseball gloves?

Friday Favorites

I love adding marbles to boys 5-9 and 10-14 boxes.

When I asked my sister, who works with children in Zambia, if they prefered the smaller or the larger marbles, she said most of them had never seen marbles.  They play with stones.  I know my boys love playing with marbles, they make up all kinds of games with them.  And I'm sure the children receiving marbles have lots of fun with them!

10-14 Ibrahim

God's love shared with 14 year old Ibrahim who sports a new cap from his shoebox! It was great to be at the distribution on Saturday which took place at Cotton Tree evangelical church in a village outside Monrovia, Liberia. Ibrahim, whose father works on a local rubber plantation, hopes to be a farmer when he finishes school!

Mark Datson shared this on the OCC UK fb page.

Walmart Clearance.

Walmart is clearing out boys hats, they come in packs of 2 for $1.00.  The price was marked at $5.00 but I thought it was worth asking if they were marked down further. And they were $1.00.  Score!
Boys shorts and pants were on clerarance for $1.00.  I only found smaller sizes for 2-4 boxes for this price. 
They were also clearing out spoons.  3 for .50 cents.

Anyone else finding good deals these days?

Under $10.00 boxes. 10-14 boy

This is the first year I am collecting supplies all year around.
And I must say that enjoy the hunt of finding a good bargain.
It's amazing what God puts in our path.

I decided to do a 10-14 boys box first.
I do believe that 10-14 boxes are the least amount packed world wide.
And in my mind I always thought they were hard to pack for.
But after hearing that they receive the least amount of boxes I was determined to pack more for them.
I have enjoyed looking for ideas online.
The Operation Christmas Child facebook page has great ideas, as does Clip with a Purpose.
So here's what I've come up with for my first box under $10.00
And I have found they are not that to fill;)

Multipurpose tool $2.00 - Dollarama
Water bottle .05 cents - New from a garage sale.
Bungee cords .50 cents - Dollarama.- pack of 4 for $1.00 divided between 2 boxes.
Truck- not sure where it came from.  Has been sitting in my boys room, never played with.
Underwear .60 cents -Walmart- package of 5 for $3.00 (this was a great sale back in April)
T-shirt $1.94 Superstore - summer clearance.
Marbles $1.00- Dollarama
Stuffed animal - .25 cents - New from a thrift store.
Pencil case - $1.00 - Dollarama
Notebook - .06 cents.  Staples Pack of 4 for .25 cents.
30 sheets of loose leaf.  .04 cents.  Superstore. A pack of 150 sheets divided 5 ways. 
5 pencils .12 cents. Superstore- pack of 10 for .25 cents.
3 Pens .25 cents - Staples - pack of 12 pens for $1.00
Eraser .19 cents - Superstore- pack of 5 erasers for .94 cents
Pencil sharpener .25 cents - Dollarama - pack of 4 sharpeners for $1.00
Pencil crayons .50 cents.  -Superstore-$1.24 divided by 2.
Balloons  free -from a parade
Wash cloth .33 cents. - Giant Tiger- pack of 3 for $1.00
Soap .30 cents - Superstore - $2.99 for 10 pack
Tennis Ball .16 cents -Superstore - $2.97 for a 18 pack
Slinky .25 cents - Target -after Christmas clearance.
Bouncy Ball .09 cents.  - Independent dollar store- $1.50 for a package of 12.

Grand Total $9.83

Although I just noticed I did not include a comb.
This is a staple in my boxes. 
I usually buy a package of 8 from Dollarama for $1.00
So add .12 cents to my total.

And candy I will add from my boys stash of halloween candy.

Which age and gender would you like to see next?

Ask your kids what to add.

Have you ever gone to the store and asked your kids what they think you should buy to fill the box?
They often have many different ideas.
Often God appointed ideas, I may add.
I took my son and he right away said. "Mom, you have to buy these bungee cords."
I had never thought of buying bungee cords. 
But we use them quite often.
I'll add them to a 10-14 boys box.
And I'm sure they'll come in handy.

Anyone else have their child come up with a great suggestion to buy for a box?