About OCC

The Journey of a ShoeboxHow To Do A ShoeboxWhere to Take Your ShoeboxesWhere Your Shoeboxes GoShoebox StoriesThank You For 2011Frequently Asked QuestionsOur PartnersLocal Events

 

• Preparation
  Even before you have thought about your shoebox, we and our volunteer teams are busy preparing to receive your shoebox through:
  
  - Prayer
  - Promotion in sending countries
  - Providing training in receiving countries
  
• Donors hold fundraising events  to help raise money to send the shoeboxes and promote the appeal 


• Packing Shoeboxes
  You and millions of other people across the world engage in this fun activity!
  
   - Individuals
   - Families
   - Local Churches
   - Other groups, including schools and workplaces
  


• Collecting Shoeboxes
  Now you need to get your box to us so that we can send it on to a needy child!
  
  - Take it to your nearest drop off point
  - Don’t forget the £2.50 required for each shoebox that you make – either place in your shoebox or donate online 
  - Boxes are taken from drop off points to Processing Centres


• Processing Shoeboxes
  Each shoebox is checked to make sure all contents are appropriate for children
  
  - At Processing Centres each shoebox is inspected by a volunteer
  - To ensure that it meets the receiving countries customs requirements
  - To consolidate and prepare for shipment
  


• Shipping Shoeboxes
  Hundreds of trucks/lorries and sea containers are now ready to take your shoebox along with millions of others like it!
  
  - Transit to receiving country
  - Customs clearance
  - Delivered to local churches and ministry partners
  


• Distribution of shoebox gifts
  This is when your shoebox gets into the hands of a child!
  
  - Lively, fun event for children
  - Shoeboxes are given to children unconditionally
  - Where appropriate, creative Christmas Gospel presentation by local churches and ministry partners;
  - Where appropriate, children are offered a copy of The Greatest Gift of All booklet (see below) in their local language by local churches and ministry partners
  - Soon after an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) distribution event the local churches and ministry partners may offer The Greatest Journey (TGJ) to children participating in OCC in many of their communities.