About Us

The South Central PA OCC Team goes back to 1995 when Loretta Tharp (now our Area Coordinator) packed two shoe box gifts after reading an article in Decision magazine. Loretta had been praying for an opportunity to reach out to others and make a difference for eternity. She was tired of feeling that she was "just sitting in church each Sunday keeping the pew warm."

The following year Loretta put an article in her local newspaper, and 335 shoe boxes came in and were parked in her living room for a few weeks. In 1997 the number grew to 775, and the next year produced 1,474 boxes. It was quite evident that God had His hand on this project was blessing it.

By 2001 a Collection Center was established in the Waynesboro area, and stories were coming back from the field of lives being changed for eternity because of shoe box gifts. Many of the hard-working people in the South Central PA area have volunteered to serve at the Collection Center, and some work year-round making "filler" items for the Processing Center. They understand the impact of a simple gift and welcome the opportunity to help share Christ with children all around the world.

Each year the number of shoe boxes grows, more filler items come in, and more people get involved. In the spring of 2007 the First Annual OCC Auction was held, and it brought in $8,000 to be used for filler items. In 2009 the auction netted almost $ 20,000 for filler items and packing boxes, all to be sent to the Processing Center in Charlotte.

Through the years Loretta served as the Collection Center Coordinator and did most of the other jobs as well. She really could not imagine doing things differently until, in March, 2010, she attended her first Connect Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. God began to show her a better way, and by mid July the South Central PA team was officially established.

• The Prayer team is led by Joy Martin.
• Joy's husband, Delray Martin, leads the Church Relations Team.
• Eric and Vickie Oyer serve as Community Relations Coordinators.
• David Goodman serves as Media Relations Coordinator and coordinates the team's annual Processing Center trip.
• Gary and Jane Koser came on board as Coordinators of the Collection Center in Waynesboro.
• There are currently 37 Connect volunteers, and more beinq added all the time.

Loretta stands amazed at the committed, faithful volunteers God has sent to help. Together we praise Him for 252,122 shoe box gifts collected in this area. The team has set a goal for this year of 30,000 shoe boxes and a trailer load of filler items. To God be the Glory—for He has done, and is doing, great things.