Receiving Kit Supplies

My wonderful husband set up a spreadsheet and figured out how to maximize the raised humanitarian kit funds to make as many kits as possible.  We searched around on the internet and used sites that had the best deals we could find.  I have placed all the orders and am now just awaiting the deliveries.  I have all the soap, all the ziplock bags, and some of the combs.  I should receive the toothpaste, toothbrushes, and the rest of the combs this week.  I was disappointed to find that our towels were back ordered.  :(  But they were the best deal for some pretty nice towels, so we will wait for them.  They said I should have them by the end of February.  This is why I haven't scheduled the assembly date yet!

Come soon towels!!

Deadline for Donations

Yesterday was the deadline for all donations for my project to be given to me, or promised.  The support I have received has been OVERWHELMING!!  Thank you to everyone who has given so generously.  In total, all the contributions that were made resulted in the collection of $778.78, 24 completed kits, plus some supplies!  I shed many tears as I opened envelopes and saw the amounts of money that people were entrusting to me.  They have faith that I will use this money for the hygiene kits, and I want them to know that not one penny will be used for any other purpose.  I promise - and my word is good.  God Bless you all!

With such a "great" result from what began with one "simple" email I sent to friends and family, I must include this scripture (again) in this post: Alma chapter 37 verse 6 – “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.”

All the checks and cash that were donated

14 More Kits!

When I sent the word out about my project, a few people from church told me that a humanitarian kit drive had been started a few months ago, but never finished, and that all the supplies were still sitting in boxes at the church!  So tonight the 12 and 13 year-old girls helped me go through the supplies, sort what met the requirements, and assemble kits from the remaining supplies.  They assembled 14 complete kits and 12 partial kits that just need the towels and some toothbrushes!  Leftover from that were 82 bars of soap, 20 tubes of toothpaste, a bunch of combs, and many ziplock bags that I will use towards my project.  The supplies that did not meet the requirements were donated to another charity.
Thank you to the girls and their leader for helping to go through the supplies, assemble the kits, and for helping me get the SUPER HEAVY box to my car!!! (and shoving it in my front seat with the bottom of the box falling apart!)



Assembling the Kits









Counting the Kits





14 complete Kits

 

Leftover supplies and incomplete kits

The First Kits!

On January 19th, some friends of mine who live in Georgia (J. and G.) arranged for their church youth group to assemble 10 hygiene kits in honor of my project!  Here is the picture they emailed.  Thank you all!!

Do Something Real

My 11-year old daughter received a book for Christmas called "why?"  She LOVES this book, and after she'd been reading it for a few days we visited the website for it.  Among other things there were little videos you could watch, including this one.  We all (my 5 children and me) watched it, and it brought tears to our eyes.  Then my 8-year old son said, "Mom - I am SO GLAD we are doing the hygiene kits!  That's real."  I was glad too.

It Matters To This One

I first heard “A Single Starfish” sometime when I was in high school, and it often comes to my mind when my ideals of helping others are challenged by the taunting of the world  - “How can your small contribution make a difference when so many are in need?”

A Single Starfish
By Loren Eiseley

One day an old man was walking along the beach. It was low tide, and the sand was littered with thousands of stranded starfish that the water had carried in and then left behind. The man began walking very carefully so as not to step on any of the beautiful creatures. Since the animals still seemed to be alive, he considered picking some of them up and putting them back in the water, where they could resume their lives.
The man knew the starfish would die if left on the beach's dry sand but he reasoned that he could not possibly help them all, so he chose to do nothing and continued walking.
Soon afterward, the man came upon a small child on the beach who was frantically throwing one starfish after another back into the sea. The old man stopped and asked the child, "What are you doing?"
"I'm saving the starfish," the child replied.
"Why waste your time?... There are so many you can't save them all - so what does it matter?" argued the man.
Without hesitation, the child picked up another starfish and tossed the starfish back into the water... "It matters to this one," the child explained.

I believe it matters too.

Hygiene Kit Instructions

For anyone who wishes to help, money would probably go the farthest, because as I looked online at the costs of the items, I found I’ll get the best price if I purchase everything in bulk.  Even just $1 would make a difference– if 20 people did that, I’d be able to purchase about 40 bars of soap with the money.  I will accept money and donations until January 31^st – then I will buy the supplies I need and assemble them in the next couple of weeks after that.

I will list what each hygiene kit includes and you may also donate any of the included items (must follow exact specifications) if that is what you would rather do:
In a sturdy gallon zip lock bag:

2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles that may poke through the bag)

4 toothbrushes (packaged – can be packaged together or separately, but all need to be in sealed packages)

1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 oz., no pumps)

2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)

2 hand towels (new towels, approximately 15" by 25". Please do not use dish towels or washcloths. To sew towels, serge or zigzag the edges of terry cloth to make a 15" by 25" towel.)