Volunteers are a critical part of the work of Samaritan’s Purse. That’s particularly true at this time of the year, as it is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.
It takes about 16,000 volunteers to prepare shoebox gifts for international shipping at the Calgary processing center. These volunteers will get to work at our eight processing centers to individually inspect, sort, and ship these shoebox gifts to millions of children around the world. To help, sign up here.
Once the shoeboxes are shipped overseas, more volunteers get involved. Samaritan’s Purse has a global network of volunteer teams spanning more than 100 countries. These volunteers work to receive the shipments and distribute the shoebox gifts through local churches and Christian partners. After the gift boxes are handed out, we have more than 210,000 trained volunteer teachers ready to lead students through The Greatest Journey, the discipleship program Samaritan’s Purse offers to children who receive shoebox gifts. Many of these children pray to trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior and then become ambassadors for Christ, sharing their faith with family and friends.
Our volunteer heritage is rooted in World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse, started 1977 to give medical professionals opportunities to serve short-term volunteer assignments at mission hospitals around the world. Since then we have been able to arrange more than 10,000 international trips to provide life-saving care and advance the Gospel.
Our Canadian Disaster Relief ministry also depends on volunteers. Our volunteers have a heart to serve and help Canadians recover after devastating disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and more. We’re looking for volunteers with a heart to serve others in Jesus’ name. If you or your church group can help, sign up here.
When you add them all together, that’s thousands of volunteers who join hands with Samaritan’s Purse to help our neighbors in the Name of Jesus.
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Your gift to "Where Most Needed" will help equip us with resources including personnel, materials, and supporting services to fulfill our mission and meet needs in Jesus’ Name around the world.