from Sherine:

I was at Andresen St WINCO yesterday, and they had boxes of Conversation Hearts for 15 cents each at the checkout. I think these would keep well until November, and might be fun for the kids. They are easy to miss, because they are tucked behind the counters next to the clerks, so you have to look for them.

Hello!
We are Joy's Zoo. She bought us on "after Valentine's Day Clearance" for really inexpensive prices. We are going to be sent to kids around the world in Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes in November. Maybe you can go out and buy some of our friends NOW for your shoeboxes and bring joy to another child's life!

(All of these animals were purchased for less that $2.50 each, 3 were free, 8 were under $1.50... at Walmart and Walgreens... check out the bargains at your stores now)

Keep your eye open for closeouts / sales on Valentines items... lots of stuffed animals and trinkets should be available relatively inexpensive.

If you find a great deal, please let me know at joy@firste.org so I can share the finds!

Here's how a mom in Indiana does her shoe boxes... I hope it inspires you like it does me! Working together we can touch so many kids!

From Mummy Deals:

Operation Christmas Child 2012 Plan
by Clair on February 7, 2012

I don’t wait until October to shop for Operation Christmas Child. I shop year round and am always planning for it which is why in 2009 I was able to pack 45 boxes for $45! If you haven’t seen it this year I made a video called The 12 Months of Occ’ing about how to shop ahead and be able to do more.

http://mummydeals.org/operation-christmas-child-2012-plan/

Last year the grand Operation Christmas Child total from Mummy Deals was: 700!!!!!!!!!!! To me these boxes do not just represent a box but a life. A life that this Christmas will know someone loves them and more than that will be reached with the Gospel of Jesus.

These children on the other side of the boxes are very different to most of ours: they sometimes lack basic necessities like running water, food, shelter and clothing. They live in the poorest of conditions and life is hard. Just a small token of love like a shoebox can help them realize that someone truly cares. There are so many stories of whole villages who’ve been impacted through this ministry and I’m privileged to be part of it.

This year I want to do more. My goal is 1000 shoeboxes and to do that we have a plan that I’d love for you to be a part of. We’re doing it a little differently and are going to break it up into bite-size chunks. If you live in Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland we need people to head up different departments and get donations. Would you consider helping?

Current Needs
■Volunteer hotel person to call hotels and ask for soaps, pens and pencils.
■Volunteer promotional items person to hunt around for promotional items.
■Volunteer craft person to think of the best ways to get people making homemade items.

We’d love for help in these ares so please email me at mummydeals at yahoo if you can help!

February: Valentine’s toy/hard candy clearance

March: Toiletry drive.
Call local McDonalds for donations.

April: Easter clearance.
Call for Easter candy.

May: Request for homemade items.
Ask for garage sale donations.

June: Book drive.
Unused garage sale items requested.
Call local McDonalds for donations

July: Sock/new clothes drive.
Garage sale to raise money for shipping costs.
If anyone is having a VBS: everyone brings a new toy.

August: School supply drive

September: Shoe box drive.
Call local McDonalds for donations
Hotel toiletry drive.
Dental supply drive.

October: Clothing drive.

November: Packing party

December: Toys and wrapping paper drive

From Joy:
Walgreens has Cars & Dora kids activity booklets (about 4 x 8 - pefect for Shoe boxes) in the Valentine's section. They are 2 for $1.00

From Sherine:
I stopped at Grocery Outlet after Bible study today and found Disney character (Cars & Princess) kid's flashlights for $1.99, and they include 2 AA Energizer batteries in the package. I thought that was a pretty good deal for anyone who is interested in getting some for shoe boxes.

Check stores now for toy clearances (after Christmas).

Sherine emailed this morning (Thursday)
I was at Fred Meyer yesterday, and they had just put a lot of toys out for 40% off the lowest clearance price. I got packages of "silly bands" for .36 each. It might be a good place for people to stop by if they are out that way. I went to the one on HWY 99.

Also, Target will have Toys at 70% off starting today or Friday.

You might find some good deals on toys for shoe boxes!

Did you use the pay shipping on line option for your shoe boxes in November? If so, have you heard where your shoe boxes went? We'd love to hear!

My shoe boxes went to Peru!
My friend from Portland, Maine told me hers went to Bogata, Columbia!

Joy

How to Pack a Shoebox on a Budget Part 2: Free Items
by Clair on October 21, 2010 (From Mummy Deals)

I LOVE Operation Christmas Child and last year managed to pack 45 good quality boxes for just $45 because I didn’t just start in November right before packing week. If that’s you and you don’t have totes full of goodies you’ve saved throughout the year, don’t panic! This is a whole series of posts on Budget Tips for Operation Christmas Child Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be sharing my tips on how to pack a shoebox on a budget.

Today is about ‘FREE Items’

So often I get items (legally!) from stores for FREE!!! Yup, it’s true and part of what i do at Mummy Deals each week is show you how. When it comes to shoeboxes it’s no different. If we need the item, we keep it. If we don’t but it’s inappropriate or liquids it gets given elsewhere. If not it’s going to Samaritan’s Purse and in the shoeboxes. Here’s how:

1) Drugstore freebies. One of the common questions I ask people when introducing my site is, “Do you know you can get FREE things at Walgreens and CVS. In fact I haven’t paid for toiletries in 8 years!”

While I wait for them to pick their jaw up off the floor I start to explain how Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid all have great rebate programs that enable you to take advantage of FREE items. In fact one year at CVS I got over $1000 in free items!

I never pay for toothpastes and toothbrushes which are perfect for the shoeboxes and have also been able to load up on other goodies like lipbalms for free after rebate or coupons.

2) School Supply Freebies

Many of the office stores offer rebate programs also and during school supply season offer free after rebate items or cheap deals. That’s when I stock up.


3) Using a high value coupon to get something free.
If you see a soap for $1 but you’ve also got a coupon for it for $1, guess what? That item just cost you only tax!


4) Free samples.
The bottom line is, companies like to give you free items to try like gum or candy or band aids or other items that you can pack in a shoebox. I get things in the mail often and you can too.

One place you can get free samples is from walmart (click for direct link to the samples page). Right now there's only Meow Mix and Snapple, but check back often for other samples.

Visit the Mummy Deals Website for more ideas. www.mummydeals.org

Another site with more "local" deals is Frugal Living NW. www.frugallivingnw.com

Okay, this one isn't really for Operation Christmas Child, but it is a money saver for you... so that could help your budget have more room for OCC!

"The Hallmark Catalina is back at Safeway! In the past we were able to scour the aisle for $1.49 cards and turn this into a couponless moneymaker. I scoured the aisle and could not find a single $1.49 card and I fear those days are over. But 3 cards for a dollar is still a pretty good deal."

Buy Hallmark cards between 1/4-2/14 (Excludes $.99 cards)
Buy 3, Get $5 Catalina [What's a Catalina? - It's the coupons that print at the cash register after you purchase your items]

Buy 3 Hallmark Cards on sale $1.99
Buy 3, Get $5 Catalina
Pay $5.97, Get $5 Catalina
$.32 each after Catalina

If you can find $1.49 cards you’ve really scored!
Buy 3 Hallmark Cards on sale $1.49
Buy 3, Get $5 Catalina
Pay $4.47, Get $5 Catalina
FREE plus $.53 overage after Catalina

Lori B passed on this information Saturday (1/7)

"Winco has plastic shoe boxes for 98 cents. I saw them last night at the store on 136th, I'm betting they have them at the other stores too.
It looks like 98 cents is a normal price too, so they might be available there all the time.

Just thought I'd share the find."

THANKS, LORI! 

If you find a great deal, please let us know so we can share.