Welcome to Aurora!

Samaritan's Purse Midwest Ministry Center

800 North Commerce Street Aurora, Illinois, 60504

The Samaritan's Purse Midwest Ministry Center in Aurora, Illinois, is our newest facility dedicated to sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ, with those in need. The Ministry Center provides staff and volunteers with exciting opportunities throughout the year to impact the world with the Good News of the Gospel and help fulfill the Great Commission.

The Midwest Ministry Center is located in the vibrant far western suburbs of Chicago, near beautiful downtown Naperville and only minutes from the campus of Wheaton College—where Billy and Ruth Bell Graham attended school and first met.

People working at a processing center.

Join Us in January and February!

Build a Shoebox Online Fulfillment

Thousands of Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts that were ordered through Build a Shoebox Online will be assembled by volunteers at the Midwest Ministry Center beginning in January and on into February. Shoeboxes built online go to the ends of the earth to children in some of the hardest-to-reach places—whether deep jungles, city slums, steep mountainsides, or hundreds of remote Pacific islands. Come join us as we assemble these boxes, each one an opportunity to share God's love with a child in need, a boy or girl who may have never heard the Name of Jesus.

Build a Shoebox Online Fulfillment

Begins

Jan. 23

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I stay?

Discounted rates will be offered to our volunteers by several area hotels. Information will be available during registration.

What day/times are available?

Tuesday—Saturday, 9 AM to 9 PM

How long will this opportunity be available?

Jan. 23 until mid-February

Is there an age limit to serve?

For the safety of those serving in the processing center, all volunteers in the building must be at least 13 years old at the time of their visit. No exceptions can be made. We require a ratio of one chaperone to every four youth under the age of 18. The primary responsibilities of chaperones are to ensure the safety and appropriate behavior of their youth, to advise them on the proper procedures for their assigned tasks, to help them have a great experience, and to not lose sight of the significance of their work.

What is different about this compared to traditional shoebox fulfillment?

For this project, shoebox gifts built online are packed with items selected by online donors and prepped for shipment, rather than the inspecting of shoebox gifts traditionally packed by donors.

What will we be doing in the processing center?

Volunteers pack the boxes with the items that were chosen by the online donor and support the packing line by restocking items, taping and placing boxes in cartons, and stacking and palletizing the cartons. Each job is important, and every volunteer plays a vital role in spreading the Gospel message to hard-to-reach areas.

What should I wear?

We want your experience at the processing center to be an enjoyable one, so please make proper provisions to be comfortable. Open-toed shoes and sandals are a safety hazard in the warehouse, so please wear closed-toed shoes appropriate for moving around the warehouse floor. We recommend wearing layered, casual clothes because there likely will be some open dock doors, which can cause the temperature inside the warehouse to vary.

Can we take breaks? What about meals?

There is a break area in the processing center. Vending machines are stocked with cold water, soft drinks, juices, and snacks. There will not be any on-site food vendors. You may bring your own meals and snacks with you to the processing center and enjoy them in the break room. Please be aware that all personal bags and coolers are subject to inspection. Ice is not provided; however, you may bring your own ice in coolers. No food or drinks are allowed outside of the break area. Please be advised that tobacco products are not allowed on the property. There are many restaurants in the area surrounding the processing center. The staff at the processing center can advise you of options when you arrive.

Can we bring our filled shoeboxes to the processing center?

Yes, traditional shoeboxes are always welcome! Your shoeboxes will be processed at a later date to prepare them for shipment.

Will there be a Gear Store?

Yes, there will be an on-site Gear Store. Please note that the Gear Store will only accept credit and debit cards.

Looking for a seasonal job with eternal purpose?

Samaritan's Purse offers paid, seasonal full-time jobs (40+ hours per week) at our Processing Center locations. Employees will facilitate the preparation of shoeboxes before overseas shipping.

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