No Passport Needed

It’s nearing Operation Christmas Child (OCC) National Collection Week!

Next week (November 17-25), OCC will collect shoeboxes nationwide and soon ship them around the world to share the gospel. If you haven’t started packing, here’s your reminder to do so!

However, this shoebox season, I also wanted to remind you that if you are running behind on completing your box or looking to go beyond just packing a shoebox gift, there is another excellent OCC opportunity available. That is, volunteering at an OCC processing center.

And what an amazing opportunity that is.

In December 2021, my husband and I had the chance to serve at the Atlanta, Georgia, OCC processing center. Both of us had packed shoeboxes growing up, but seeing this side of the ministry was eye-opening.

As soon as we entered the busy warehouse, we were overwhelmed by the noise and excitement that awaited us inside. There, we saw work tables lined along the wall, and hundreds of people worked together with a common goal – sorting and processing boxes that would share the gospel of Christ with children worldwide.

Different jobs were available and offered to everyone.

The only requirement was (and still is) that volunteers be at least 13 years old to participate. Which was important because the first group we worked with was a youth group comprised of young teenagers. These teens told us how special this ministry was to them, and it was evident in their willingness to give up a Saturday to serve.

At an OCC processing center, there is a plethora of things to do. There are various job opportunities, including box inspector, taper, shipper, box sorter, forklift driver, and a shoebox hospital (where damaged boxes and goods are repaired or replaced) – with many roles in between.

During our trip, my husband and I took on the job of box inspectors.

As we worked, we searched the boxes for “inappropriate items.” These items included toothpaste, candy or food, glass, toy weapons, military figures, and any liquids. Although some of these items were once acceptable, OCC no longer allows them due to changes in shipping and customs. If some of these hygiene items find their way into the boxes, OCC donates them to local ministries near the centers. You can find a comprehensive list of items not allowed in shoeboxes by visiting this link.

Throughout our time spent at the processing location, chaplains and even former recipients prayed over the boxes and for the children who would receive them. In those moments, they asked everyone to stop and pray over the current box they were working on.

Our table leader encouraged our team from the moment we arrived until we left. She, a former shoebox recipient herself, ensured us that our hands were the last to touch the box before it was delivered.

My favorite memory from this trip was when my husband opened a box and found only a used mermaid doll inside. To add to that surprise, the giver had paid the shipping fee in quarters. As we counted the coins, we realized that a little American girl had gone to great lengths to ensure a child overseas received a Christmas gift – and had given sacrificially.

These small gifts are truly powerful for both the giver and the recipient of the box.

Yet, without processing center volunteers, OCC shoeboxes would never reach their intended destination. It takes thousands of annual volunteers to get these boxes on the road and into the hands of these precious children.

That is where you come in.

This year, seven processing locations will open on November 26, with Charlotte, North Carolina, starting earlier on November 22. The eight locations include: Atlanta, Georgia; Aurora, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland; Boone, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Fullerton, California.

Any of these locations provides a perfect seasonal serving outing for parents, teens, church families, or anyone looking to minister globally without needing a passport.

For more registration information, click here. OCC also accepts late shoeboxes at these processing centers. If you have missed your packing deadline, you can hand-deliver boxes to the centers for them to be added to this year’s collection.

Editor's note: The graphic used is courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.

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