Last year around this time our family was privelaged to help a few pro golfers gather items to ship to Zimbabwe (click here to learn about them...they rock!). Matt's brother Marshall was privileged to get to know these ladies on his mission and we are so blessed to still be in contact with them! An e-mail we recieved showed us where some of last years donations went....
Both Harare Stake Young Women’s Camps received sleeping bags, journals, hygiene kits,clothing, towels etc. (almost 500 Young Women in total) HOW COOL IS THAT??? I cried when I saw all the pictures of these girls loving their new things. Also something that was said is that some of these girls only own one pair of clothing. Can you imagine?? Also, if you don't remember here is what Matt's sister Krystal gathered for her Young Women project:
And here is Matt and I delivering the goods and Matt on top helping pack up the crates:
A few days ago Reeve and her friends (the golfers) found out that their golf sponsors are allowing them to trade their "goods" they would normally be sponsored with at events for 2 empty crates to ship to Zimbabwe!
We are thrilled about this news and are planning to make a trip down to Utah in the next while (between the 15th and the 25th of NOVEMBER). We have started gathering items to take down with us (including a ton of clothes from our closets that will hopefully be used by some of those sweet girls!) It is a lot funner for me to give things when I know EXACTLY where they are going and when I know the person who will be handing my things over to those who need it. (A lot better than taking it to DI and never knowing what happens to it!)
If you or anyone you know would like to help us gather items, here is a list. (Notice that there are many medical items as well. If you know any doctors that would be interested in donating, that would be fabulous! ) Also, as you look over the list remember that every little bit counts. We are not giving a ton ourselves, but we are giving...and that is what matters! If you do not have any of the items or do not want to go out and search for them, Matt and I will be making a trip to the dollar store to buy things to take- so money is welcome if you wish! Thanks Everyone...love you all! :)
· Books (Bibles especially as the African people have a GREAT reverence and respect for The Lord’s word, Bibles in turn will allow the Children an opportunity to become literate)
· Reading Glasses (strengths +1.5 to +4) While we were distributing Bibles to the Children out in the bush from your last shipment we further realized the vast importance of reading glasses as there are thousands of Orphans and often times their only living Relative will be a Grandmother who knows how to read and could teach the Children, however she requires reading glasses!! (I have recently acquired my first pair!)
· Water Purification tablets & purification bottles
· Baby Milk Powder (for Mom’s with HIV to feed their babies) & Baby Bottles to feed them with
· Nutritional Food Supplements (i.e atmit)
· Tuna fish in oil
· New born kits
· School kits
· Hygiene kits
· Notebooks to write in
· Pens
· Clothing(babies, children/adolescence etc.)
· Primary children’s Church clothing, smaller white shirts, pants, dresses, children’s underwear etc.
· Missionary clothing for Elders - white shirts, ties, suits, shoes, backpacks, belts, sweaters, overcoats (including smaller sizes)
· Missionary Clothing for Sister Missionaries
· Antiseptic soap / Bath soap
· First Aid kits (however NO medicines) Bandages/Band-aids/splints etc.
· Seeds
· Laundry soap
· Towels
· Blankets, Sheets (linen)
· Underwear
· Sweaters
· Socks
· Shoes
· Hats
· Toys/balls
· For the Stake Young Women’s Camps (500+ Girls) - Sleeping bags, Journals, Pens, Towels, Hygiene kits, clothing
"Last year we spent MANY hours sorting through the clothing into sizes so that it might be easily distributed once it arrived as we do not have a warehouse in Zimbabwe which to unpack the goods into. Therefore, as cheeky as this might sound, we would be SO, SO GRATEFUL if the donated clothing could be packed and labelled according to sizes" i.e.
· BABY
· CHILD – Girl
· CHILD - Boy
· TEENAGER - Girl
· TEENAGER - Boy
· ADULT –Female
· ADULT - Male
