Blogger Tag – Operation Christmas Child.

A lot of blogger tag’s go around, and most of them are about what we all have in our make-up and skincare collections. I myself have taken part in them, and so I thought that seeing as Christmas is coming up, we could put a blogger tag to good use. While we will all be opening countless gifts under the tree this year, many children will have none. They may never even have had a Christmas present before. 

This is where Operation Christmas Child comes in. I have done this almost every year since I was in primary school. It’s a lot of fun, and selfless at the same time. It gives children a Christmas they can remember and attach happy memories to, and it gives them things they would never usually be able to get hold of or afford themselves. You basically just get a shoebox, and fill it with little (unwrapped!) gifts suitable for the age and gender you have chosen. For more detailed information on how to do it, go here.

I’ve thought of this ‘tag’ a little late, from the time this is published we will only have 18 days to get our boxes filled and to the nearest drop off point. So, let’s get cracking guys! You can make your own box and fill it yourself, or you can just order one that’s already filled, online here. You can also find out where your nearest drop-off point is here.


You will need one medium sized shoe box. Wrap the box in Christmas wrapping paper. Then choose the age range and gender you want to send your box to. Before you spend all your money on the gifts to go inside the box, put £2.50 aside for the shoebox donation, to cover postage costs. Don’t worry, it doesn’t cost too much to fill. I usually spend around £20 on mine, and that pays for a lot of gifts that the child will love. Just think…£20 is the price of one or two items of make-up. Surely you can give up buying your MAC powder for a while to do this? 

“What to put in the box: 

Toys: Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, finger puppet, jigsaw, yo-yo, building blocks, small musical instrument. For boys: trucks and cars, For girls: dolls, clip on earrings, etc. 

Educational Supplies: Felt pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, colouring book, notepad, picture or puzzle book, chalk, pencil case, stickers, etc. 
Hygiene Items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of soap, flannel, etc. 

Other Items: Sweets (sell-by date to be at least March of the following year), gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, hat, bangles, necklaces etc. 

All gifts should be new, please include items from each category.


What not to put in:

No Food

 especially chocolate – non-chocolate sweets are allowed


No medicine


 or vitamins of any kind


No war related items


 toy guns, soldiers or knives of any kind


No clothing


 other than listed above


No fragile items


 glass containers, mirrors.


No liquids


 including blow bubbles, shampoo, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols.

No dangerous items

 sharp objects, scissors or razors

No novels



Nothing of a political nature



No hand-knitted stuffed toys without a CE mark”


I know this list from the website sounds really confusing, but I promise it isn’t! I’ve included images of my box with the items I currently have for it, to help you. I haven’t finished it yet, I’m planning to put some sweets and things from the toy section. So far it’s all cost me around £14. Don’t buy expensive things, the ‘own brand’ things are just as good and far cheaper. Also I haven’t wrapped my box in wrapping paper yet, but I will keep you updated over the next week or so with how it’s coming along 🙂

I chose to give my box to a girl, aged 10-14 years old. I thought of things I would have liked at that age, and also followed some of the items on the list. 

So far I’ve included a flannel and soap, strawberry lip balm, a hairbrush, hand wipes and a small children’s eyeshadow set. I know it says no mirrors, but this mirror is one of those children’s plastic ones, not an actual breakable one.

 I’ve also included toothbrushes and toothpaste, and I just had to include these super cute/funny tissues!

I then also got an A5 notebook, a clear pencil case, and I filled it with coloured pencils, pens, and a small flexible ruler. All items are new, but I took the labels off things as I’m guessing some children won’t have scissors to cut them off with? 

I’m going to get the other things to put in the box over the next week, so will keep you updated!

So bloggers, who’s doing this with me? All you have to do is post about the tag and what we’re doing on your blog, and post photos of your box and the items you’re putting in it. I think it’ll be fun to see what everyone comes up with, and of course lots of children will benefit from it at the end 🙂 
You can also tweet about it with the link to this post, to help raise awareness of what we’re doing, with the hashtag #OperationBlogger


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Catherine Lux
Catherine Lux

Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of SEO at Havas Media Group by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.

Find me on: Web | Instagram

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15 Comments

  1. Unknown
    October 31, 2012 / 9:54 am

    I remember doing this in primary school and having so much fun doing it.I think I might just do this again this year, especially as a drop off point is literally 2 mins away from my office

    • Catherine Lux
      October 31, 2012 / 6:30 pm

      Definitely do it, I love it, it's a fun way to give to others 🙂

      Cx

  2. Anonymous
    October 31, 2012 / 11:28 am

    I used to do this at primary school too 🙂
    I am definitely going to do this now and thanks to your links I found my local drop point is very close!! I will do a post on it too in order to spread the word hopefully! xx

    • Catherine Lux
      October 31, 2012 / 6:31 pm

      Yay! Looking forward to seeing your post 🙂

      Cx

    • Catherine Lux
      November 1, 2012 / 12:58 pm

      Aw yay, love the mouse hehe 🙂

      C x

    • Catherine Lux
      November 1, 2012 / 12:59 pm

      I love it, and I think it will be such a great way for bloggers to do something that's charitable AND fun this christmas! 🙂

      C x

  3. Jing
    November 1, 2012 / 2:38 pm

    I love this, really makes Christmas about giving rather than receiving, looking forwards to seeing more products x

    • Catherine Lux
      November 4, 2012 / 8:24 pm

      It really does, brings back the true meaning of Christmas.

      C x

  4. Jess
    November 4, 2012 / 12:07 pm

    I do this too. I have done it every year since I was about 9 and school sent a leaflet home about it. I love doing it. I now do a box for a girl and a box for a boy. I get my kids to help pick things to go in the box and they really enjoy it too. It is one of my favourite parts of Christmas. 🙂

    • Catherine Lux
      November 4, 2012 / 8:25 pm

      It's one of my favourite parts of Christmas too – I look forward to it all year 😛 hehe.

      C x

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