It’s Processing Time!
November 25, 2008
The week after National Collection Week is always a highly anticipated time for the OCC Operations Team, but this year is especially exciting. Staff and volunteers in all six Processing Centers have worked hard to ensure that everything will be in place when the doors open on Nov. 25 and tens of thousands of volunteers come ready to process, package and ship millions of shoe boxes to needy children overseas. This year we plan to process 700,000 shoe boxes in Atlanta; 600,000 in Boone and Denver; 500,000 in Orange County, California; 400,000 in Minneapolis; and 2.1 million in Charlotte.
We have many new initiatives being implemented in the Processing Centers across the country this year. In Charlotte, we are executing a strategy called the “Team System.” We tested this system last year in the Boone and Denver warehouses and found it much more efficient than the method we have used in the past. Now teams of 18 to 25 volunteers take an unprocessed shoe box, and within about 8 feet and 62 seconds, have it packaged and ready for shipping. While it has been a huge task to implement the system in our largest Processing Center, the time saved will benefit Operation Christmas Child in a huge way and create a fun team atmosphere for volunteers.
My prayer is that each person who walks into a Processing Center will see God working. Over the past few years, we have worked to make Processing Centers a place where people can come and see God at work, hear God’s Word, and feel God’s love. This year will be no different.
Previous entry: Blessings from Coast to Coast
Next entry: The First Day of Processing
PROFILE
John Pryor
Domestic Operations ManagerBoone, NC
John has worked with Operation Christmas Child for six years. As domestic operations manager, John oversees and develops a nationwide plan for processing shoe boxes, preparing processing centers, and supporting the processing center managers. John lives in Boone with his wife Kim and their two children, Bethany and Jackson.
Field Journals
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BoliviaSheldon YoderProgram manager Sheldon Yoder is bringing clean water to indigenous people living in Bolivia's highlands. He describes the unique culture of this region and what Samaritan's Purse is doing to help those in need. Read More |
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CambodiaIm HaiChurch mobilization manager Im Hai describes how Cambodian Christians are reaching out to those living with HIV/AIDS Read More |
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HondurasWilson CloterWilson Cloter is addressing HIV/AIDS in Honduran communities through education about the disease, voluntary counseling and testing, and Christ-like compassion. Read More |
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KosovoDonika SokoliProgram manager Donika Sokoli writes about how Samaritan's Purse is helping Roma children obtain an education. Read More |
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LiberiaJoni BykerOur volunteer teams coordinator tells the story of post-conflict Liberia through images and African Bible College reconstruction project. Read More |
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MongoliaEmily ManghamAs a member of the Children’s Heart Project team, Emily Mangham identifies youth with heart defects and helps organize transport to a North American hospital that provides life-saving surgery. Read More |
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SudanLori BryanProgram Manager Lori Bryan describes the needs of South Sudan, a nation recovering from 20 years of civil war. Read More |
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United StatesKathy SchrieferArea coordinator Kathy Schriefer has been packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child since 1995. This year, she hopes to exceed her 6,000-box goal. Read More |
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ZambiaDr. Matt CothamWorld Medical Mission Doctor Matt Cotham describes the triumphs and challenges of practicing medicine at Mukinge Hospital. Read More |
MULTIMEDIA
- Sudan Global Day of Prayer
- Come Together Now - Healing 4 Haiti Music Video
- Haiti Relief - Providing Clean Water
- Haiti Relief - Franklin Graham Report
- Haiti Relief - Faces of Despair
- Haiti Relief - Helping orphans in distress
- Haiti Relief - Delivering Hope
- Haiti Relief - Glimmer of Hope
- Haiti Relief - Trucks delivered
- Relief Equipment for Haiti
