By this time of the year have have a pretty good sized collection of leftover shoe boxes…you know, the cardboard ones that shoes come in! {grins} Well, as I began to check my growing collection this year, I decided to make a change! This year, we have decided on buying plastic storage boxes to use for our OCC boxes rather than our leftover shoe boxes.
Why plastic storage bins?
Many of the children that will be receiving these gifts are in need of everyday materials! Who knows how valuable the plastic container could be to a child or family in need. The plastic storage box could not only be used for storage, but it could become a lunchbox, a mixing bowl, a water basin, a shovel…
(FYI: The 6qt plastic boxes can be purchased on Amazon, but I purchased mine at a hardware store for $1 each.)
What about you…paper or plastic? And Why?
Stay tuned for my next Operation Christmas Child post explaining how we are decorating our plastic OCC boxes!
Attention Bloggers: Please join in and help spread the word about this amazing organization by blogging about your Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts and linking up your post(s) below!
Disclosure: As a member of the iHomeschool Network’s Samaritan’s Purse Blogger Team, I write about the ministry on a volunteer basis. All posts are my own thoughts and do not necessarily reflect the views of Samaritan’s Purse. I am not on employee, agent, or contractor of Samaritan’s Purse.{This post may contain affiliate or advertiser links. Please review my disclosure policy.}
Welcome to my main blog!
Thanks- this is something I've been meaning to give attention to for many years and will finally have the push I need to do it!
ReplyDeleteYou will be so glad that you did!
ReplyDeleteWe switched to plastic for this same reason. Another bonus is that instead of wrapping we just line it with a cute piece of tissue paper. So much easier than trying to wrap a box and lid.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree! Love the idea of lining the plastic bin! I will be soon be sharing about how we will "wrap" our boxes!
ReplyDeleteWe do plastic, for the same reason. I figure that the plastic box itself may be appreciated, while the paper one is likely to fall apart fairly quickly, due to the elements.
ReplyDeleteExactly!
ReplyDeletePlastic here too! Started doing plastic boxes a few years ago. You can typically get them for $1 or even less at a back-to-school type sale. They are durable and the child can store their treasures in them, or like you said, use it as a mixing bowl, lunchbox, or shovel!
ReplyDeleteWe switched to plastic last year because I was told many families who receive them use them for carrying water. Might as well make the container a part of the gift! I just turned in our families' shoebox donation early as I'll have a brand new baby during collection week. :)
ReplyDeleteWe have always used plastic. We buy the boxes right after Christmas, so the lid colors are just right!
ReplyDeleteOh, great idea buying them just after Christmas! I think I will do the same this year in preparation for OCC 20113! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! How exciting to be looking forward to a brand new baby!!!
ReplyDeleteWe used plastic for many years for the same reasons listed until I spoke with an area rep who visited a processing plant. She said the majority of the plastic boxes end up cracked and they have to tape them up. In addition, they can fit more of their cardboard shoe boxes into the large shipping containers than plastic boxes. This saves them a bundle in shipping. I'll ask my contact again for those figures if anyone is interested.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Lauren!
ReplyDelete