Shoebox Campaign Asks For Volunteers
The calendar says August and the thermometer is topping ninety degrees, but don’t let that stop you from planning for Christmas! Well, not exactly.
Samaritan’s Purse, the evangelical relief and ministry organization behind the annual Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign, is getting this year’s campaign underway by asking for volunteers to come help them process boxes at one of six US processing centers.
This year they are expecting more than 65,000 people to volunteer and hope to match, if not pass last year’s collection of 7.6 million boxes from eleven participating countries including the United States, Canada, Germany and Ireland.
Six Processing Centers In The USA
The processing centers are located in Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis and Orange County, California as well as two centers in the ministry’s home state of North Carolina — Charlotte and Boone.
Processing registration begins today and spaces fill up quickly. Though I haven’t had the pleasure of helping out at a processing center, I’ve had experience putting together and collecting boxes through my local church.
Learn More About OCC
For more information about Samaritan’s Purse and their Operation Christmas Child (OCC) project, or to order project materials, please call 1-800-353-5949 or visit Samaritan’s Purse on the internet.
See Also — A Shoebox Full Of Love: Operation Christmas Child
Popularity: 12% [?]
Kela | August 3rd, 2009 at 7:17 am #
It’s wild that you would mention OCC.
Last week I had the pleasure of serving in “Missions Harbour” in Vacation Bible School. The emphasis was missions and it was suggested in the curriculum that we fill boxes similar to that of Operation Christmas Child.
Two women in our church are heavily involved with OCC and thought that we should put focus on OCC. That’s what we did, and it was amazing how God moved in the hearts of all of the young children that watched and listened to videos about OCC. I know that 3 large OCC boxes were filled with items to be packaged in the late fall. God is so good and His provision is right on time.
Kela´s last blog ..An Opportunity For Marriage Mentorship
Matt | August 3rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm #
Kela, that is wonderful!
Children respond to helping others when a clearly defined (and easy) plan is outlined for them. OCC and similar programs allow children to help on a level that they can understand and enjoy.
By collecting some of the goods needed to fill shoe boxes later on, your VBS program offers a terrific and inspiring challenge to others who plan on putting their boxes together later this fall.
Thank you for the inspirational boost!