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.)

Mariama Kallon youtube video

Here is a youtube of Mariama Kallon talking about how much the hygiene kits mean:

Humanitarian Hygiene Kits!

I had an experience this past year that allowed me to hear about the difference one “hygiene kit” has made in countless people’s lives – through a ripple effect.  Specifically, I heard Mariama Kallon speak about how she received a hygiene kit in Sierra Leone Africa, and how she carried it around with her as she moved to different relatives’ homes, and then how she shared it’s supplies with a group of women she didn’t even know as they bathed in a river after they’d all been raped by rebel soldiers during civil unrest in the late 90’s.  She later joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and soon after desired to be a missionary – and ended up serving at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, UT.  It was there she learned where her hygiene kit had come from.  She was invited to stay with a family in Utah after her mission, and last year she traveled around the U.S. speaking to groups of women about her experience and telling how much the kits mean to the people who receive them.  She still has what is left of her kit and I saw it with my own eyes – a torn zip lock bag with a worn hand towel and a shampoo bottle.  (There is now a  DVD available about her experience - I received it for Christmas, and it touches my heart whenever I watch it.)  Here is a picture of me with Mariama. 

We all brought items to this conference (called Time Out For Women ) and assembled kits to donate to a local battered women and children’s shelter.

I was so moved when I heard her story, that I decided that every year for my birthday I will assemble humanitarian kits/supplies to donate to my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for distribution around the world.  When these kits are distributed, it is done without regard to religion, race, etc – simply given to those in need. 

When I was thinking about what my goal should be, I decided that I will have a goal to assemble the number of kits to match my age.  So this year as I celebrate my 34^th birthday, my goal will be to assemble 34 hygiene kits.  (and I hope to even surpass this goal!)

I am asking for help with this project instead of any gifts.

Make a Difference

I've created this blog to share a project that I’m undertaking to celebrate my birthday.  What better way to show God that I am grateful for my life than by helping others?   J  I would like to ask everyone to please take some time this week to do something good and do it on purpose.  I know that you all perform services and kindnesses, and have charities that you choose to contribute to – and I am happy for that!  I will post pictures and document how this year's project went.  I’m so excited!