Notes on gifts to Operation Christmas Child
First, Please Do Not Include: Candy; toothpaste; used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures; chocolate or food; seeds; fruit rolls or other fruit snacks; drink mixes (powdered or liquid); liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans- these items are banned because of the international shipping and safety regulations.
Also, someone who has spent time with the children who will receiving these gifts encourage you NOT to include:
Anything with instructions in English, Any toy that is not universally recognizable, Yo-yo's (They don't know what it is in many places, Gloves, winter hats (You don't know where your box will end up in), Play-dough (Kids here have no idea what it is for.), Stickers or temporary tattoos (Kids don't have anywhere to stick the stickers), T-shirts with words or pictures on them (Would you want to wear a shirt with something unknown written on it?), Anything that will break right away or could break in transit
Please DO bring: shoeboxes or plastic shoebox size boxes, dolls, Soccer ball (Make sure to include a manual air pump so that the ball can be re-inflated.), An outfit of clothing to wear, Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or woodwind recorder), combs, Hairbrush, Toothbrush, Washcloth, Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container), Adhesive bandages (Colorful ones can help a child be more willing to wear a bandage. Do not include liquid antibiotic ointment.), Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensil. Blankets, Shirts and pants, Pillowcase dress (loose-fitting sundress), Underwear, Shoes and socks, Flip-flops, Hat/scarf/mittens, Sunglasses, Tote bag/purse, Hair bows, Friendship bracelets (woven with yarn or embroidery thread), Pencils, Small manual pencil sharpener, Colored pencils, Pencil case, Crayons, Markers, Pens, Coloring pads, Coloring books, Picture book, Notebooks, Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue.), Small adhesive tape, Small adhesive tape, Watercolor set, [Finger paint palette/crayons/markers (non-liquid containers), paint brushes, canvas or paper], skipping rope/Jump rope, Foam ball, Kickball (Make sure to include a manual air pump so that the ball can be re-inflated), Finger puppets, Slinky, Etch A Sketch, Interactive toys that include push buttons, lights, noise (include extra batteries), Sunglasses, Tennis balls, Plastic cars, trucks, boats (toddler size, the matchbox kind sometimes doesn’t do well in the dirt), Plastic tools, Plastic dinosaurs, Backpacks, Non-liquid lip balm, Compact mirror, Hair bows, Hand held pencil sharpeners, marbles, solar calculator, melamine plate, cup, or bowl, plastic soap case, blank index cards, binoculars, hackey sack, playing cards,
First, Please Do Not Include: Candy; toothpaste; used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures; chocolate or food; seeds; fruit rolls or other fruit snacks; drink mixes (powdered or liquid); liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans- these items are banned because of the international shipping and safety regulations.
Also, someone who has spent time with the children who will receiving these gifts encourage you NOT to include:
Anything with instructions in English, Any toy that is not universally recognizable, Yo-yo's (They don't know what it is in many places, Gloves, winter hats (You don't know where your box will end up in), Play-dough (Kids here have no idea what it is for.), Stickers or temporary tattoos (Kids don't have anywhere to stick the stickers), T-shirts with words or pictures on them (Would you want to wear a shirt with something unknown written on it?), Anything that will break right away or could break in transit
Please DO bring: shoeboxes or plastic shoebox size boxes, dolls, Soccer ball (Make sure to include a manual air pump so that the ball can be re-inflated.), An outfit of clothing to wear, Small musical instrument (such as a harmonica or woodwind recorder), combs, Hairbrush, Toothbrush, Washcloth, Bar soap (packaged and/or in a container), Adhesive bandages (Colorful ones can help a child be more willing to wear a bandage. Do not include liquid antibiotic ointment.), Reusable plastic containers: cup, water bottle, plate, bowl, blunt-edged utensil. Blankets, Shirts and pants, Pillowcase dress (loose-fitting sundress), Underwear, Shoes and socks, Flip-flops, Hat/scarf/mittens, Sunglasses, Tote bag/purse, Hair bows, Friendship bracelets (woven with yarn or embroidery thread), Pencils, Small manual pencil sharpener, Colored pencils, Pencil case, Crayons, Markers, Pens, Coloring pads, Coloring books, Picture book, Notebooks, Glue stick (Do not include liquid glue.), Small adhesive tape, Small adhesive tape, Watercolor set, [Finger paint palette/crayons/markers (non-liquid containers), paint brushes, canvas or paper], skipping rope/Jump rope, Foam ball, Kickball (Make sure to include a manual air pump so that the ball can be re-inflated), Finger puppets, Slinky, Etch A Sketch, Interactive toys that include push buttons, lights, noise (include extra batteries), Sunglasses, Tennis balls, Plastic cars, trucks, boats (toddler size, the matchbox kind sometimes doesn’t do well in the dirt), Plastic tools, Plastic dinosaurs, Backpacks, Non-liquid lip balm, Compact mirror, Hair bows, Hand held pencil sharpeners, marbles, solar calculator, melamine plate, cup, or bowl, plastic soap case, blank index cards, binoculars, hackey sack, playing cards,