Samaritan’s Purse – West Coast Ministry Center

Feb 2023

Been volunteering at Samaritans Purse for a very long time and for the past 2 years been working with them. Before i started working with them I was here when they first opened up this processing center so my review will be as a worker and as a volunteerFor someone who doesn't know what this place is a quick run down of what this place does. Operation Christmas Child is an Christian base organization that sends shoeboxes that the volunteers and/or workers packed to kids in third world country's who don't have what we have! Such as clothes, shoes, hygiene products, toys, school supply's etc.Our goal is to bring the lost and the ones who don't know who god and Jesus is using these little care packages of hope!As I was a volunteer It was an amazing experience!I mainly volunteer at drop off but whenever I process shoe boxes I find it fun and exciting! I've basically done everything that a volunteer can do here (before started working) When doing processing all you do is check for no go items such as candy, food, war related items, use clothes etc. usually every hour or 2 everyone takes a break by watching short videos about what the shoe boxes do and where they go. If you plan on staying for more than 4 hours bring a mat to stand on! You won't regret it! As for working drop off you'll meet lots of nice people either by dropping off shoe boxes or people passing by wondering what does the organization and ministry do. It's a joy to meet everyone and a joy to handle these shoeboxes either by them selves or in cartons (big boxes) rain or shine they will be there! As a worker nothing brings me more joy than watching everything play out. The people you'll meet will always bring a smile to your face and what your doing will put on a bigger smile on anyone's face. As a worker no matter what we will help you and make your time so enjoyable! Either as a volunteer or worker you'll want to keep coming back here! It's an amazing thing we do here! We bring the lost to him and the ones who don't know about him by showing these kids about Jesus! If you are just a passerby wondering what this place does we welcome you to come in when the processing season starts! And if you are a person who Volunteers every year we welcome you again! No matter what you'll be leaving here happy knowing what your doing is helping kids around the world!

Dec 2021

My wife and I helped inspect and clear shoe boxes on December 8, 2021 for shipment to kids in Thailand, we were told. It's delightful to see what all types of folks select for children through the Operation Christmas Child program. Throughout your "shift" in the modern warehouse, mostly upbeat Christmas music is played and, although I was facing away from the large screen while I worked, I got the impression that scenes of places that Samaritans Purse has helped played out on that screen throughout the night (we chose an evening shift - I believe they have several shifts that volunteers can sign up for). A leader there interrupts the work perhaps three times a shift for a nice bit of info about the ministry and a prayer. Our team from our home church, 7 in all, worked very hard at our station to get the packages ready for shipment. Each of the 20 or so stations have an Inspection portion where you remove rubber-banded and packed boxes from their larger box. You open the box and do a quick inspection of the contents, removing any of the few disallowed type of items (liquids, foods, glue, etc) for later disbursal to other affiliated charities (we were told). The inspected box then goes to a person who does a single, strong tape of the box and then fill up empty shipping boxes with these now-ready packages. The packages were also scanned by one of our team so people who request this information can track via SP's website what nation the gifts were sent for the children there. Each station has two sides so that your opposite team members face you. I seldom took a moment to even see what others were doing around me because I was so into my inspector role. But other stations nearby would make a shout of joy for each shipping box they completed. That was neat. I will mirror what volunteer Carol wrote in another review that it was good hard work. The repetitive movements gave me a slight back soreness at the end but that's likely due to how I bear into such work. But, yeah, it's the best hard work you'll likely do all year! They have an area for breaks at your own pace with vending machines - you can bring your own food as well and they have an area and some refrigeration for those items. I bought a cute tree decoration for my wife from their small brand store as I took a break. We received a free themed t-shirt at the end. If you want to feel really good about your Christmas, fill a box or two, then arrange to volunteer at this center to see what your box will undergo before blessing some child somewhere on this sometimes benighted planet. You'll know that you've contributed some light in the darkness and you'll be blessed as well. Thanks to my teammates, our leader Nate, Kiko, Nathan, Evie, Bob, and my lovely wife, Lisa. What a joyful experience! Wish I'd have taken photos but I was quite busy.

Dec 2021

Working here for the first time as a dock worker has been very pleasant! Got hired immediately, full time! Very busy and physically demanding but I have an awesome crew that’s got my back and I theirs. Management is very nice and as long as you’re doing your job they never bother you!