More than eight million children were helped by people just like you via Operation Christmas Child. You can pack a shoebox and you can volunteer at a regional processing center this year. Registration is now in progress.
I “borrowed” the name from a brochure I received in the mail yesterday for the title of this article, a colorful tri-fold publication sent to our family from Samaritan’s Purse. I wasn’t surprised about the timing of its arrival although on August 1st, just who is thinking about Christmas?
Well, if you’re part of the Operation Christmas Child team you are!
Processing Center Registration Has Begun!
Starting on August 1st of each year, Samaritan’s Purse puts out the call for volunteers to set aside some of their time to help process the millions of shoe boxes packed for needy children around the world for its Operation Christmas Child (OCC) outreach. These boxes must go through regional processing centers first where volunteers check each one to make sure that the items being sent are appropriate and that every box is secure. Volunteers typically work four hour shifts although other opportunities for assistance lasting as long as one week are also available.
More than 65,000 volunteers participate annually at six processing centers across the US: Boone and Charlotte, NC; Atlanta; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis; and in Denver. Additional processing centers are in place elsewhere in the world; if your country participates in this vital outreach you can check your local OCC office for that information.
Collection Week Is November 17-24 In The US
When the packing is done, shoe boxes are loaded up on aircraft and sent to scores of destinations around the world. It isn’t just at Christmas when these gifts arrive as shoe boxes can be packed and sent in 
at any time, but an annual collection week makes everything easier, an eight-day period that will take place from November 17-24, 2008 (the week varies according to your country).
As you can imagine, the work of these volunteers is part of a massive effort that is in operation year round. One reason why the call goes out so early is that spots fill up quickly. Samaritan’s Purse reports that people from 28 states participate and, as long as your children are at least 13 years of age, they can volunteer too.
Of course, if helping out in this way isn’t a possibility for you, don’t fret — God can use you in other ways too.
Churches, civic organizations, community groups, and other people who want to put a smile on a child’s face and share the love of the Lord with them are always needed. In fact, if you want to organize your local shoebox packing group, then you can go ahead and do that by ordering materials and getting the word out.
This campaign is very effective with more than 8 million children in over 100 countries impacted every year.
One more suggestion: this time of year many states offer tax free weekends covering the sale of school supplies and related goods. Why not pick up an extra box of crayons, pencils, small notepads, and related material now and include those items with what you pack?
Yes, you can make a difference for a child…one shoebox at a time!
(Source: Samaritan’s Purse)
Natural Sciences later this month. Beginning on June 28, 2008 and running through December 28, 2008, the general public will have an opportunity to see first hand what is considered to be one of the greatest archaeological finds ever.
