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Haiti survival packs – make & send

Sometimes, overwhelmed by a tragedy on the scale of the Haiti earthquake, we feel impotent. We ask, “What can I do that would make a difference?”   The fact is, you can make a difference. Over a million people are homeless – they’ve lost everything. If you’ll just take a quick…
By Seth Barnes
By Seth Barnes





Sometimes, overwhelmed by a tragedy on the scale of the Haiti earthquake, we feel impotent. We ask, “What can I do that would make a difference?”
 
The fact is, you can make a difference. Over a million people are homeless – they’ve lost everything. If you’ll just take a quick trip to the drug store, you can put together a pack of basic toiletries that will help a Haitian family put their lives back together.
 
Some of you may want to do one bag and some of you may want to go crazy fill up a duffle bag with these. I have three I’m taking so far on my trip next week. And after that, we’ve got a series of groups who can act as pack mules ferrying them across to Haiti.
 
Every survival pack makes a difference to a family. It lets them know that someone cares. And, if you can get it to me by next Thursday*, I’ll hand carry it to Haiti and make sure it gets to someone who needs it. Marcia Borg, a nurse who has been to Haiti, put together this list. Here is what to buy:
 

Pack #1 Adult Pack

Pack the following items in a large (gallon size) Ziploc bag:
1 Toothbrush- in original package, unopened

Toothpaste- 1 large tube-pack it out of its box
Bar of soap- 1 large bath soap
Deodorant- for men or women
1 Disposable Razor- for men’s kit only
1 washcloth
1 small hand towel
6 band-aids
3 larger bandages 3×4 or so
Comb- 1 large plastic, not pocket size

Optional items you may add but they must also fit in the Ziploc:
Small pack Tylenol- in original unopened container
Small bottle multivitamins- men’s or women’s-in original unopened container
Small fingernail clipper- not toenail clipper, no emory board

Pack #2 Baby Pack
Small pack baby wipes (80 or so) – in a soft wrapper, no hard plastic containers
Small package diapers-24 diapers. May open & split packages of diapers.
Small can baby formula 12-14oz
3 pack of baby bottles- with nipples and lids included, BPA free

Package each set of items in a plastic grocery/Wal-Mart type bag
 
Important:  Include a written prayer in your pack meant for the person who will be receiving it. Make sure we get your address and we’ll try to get you information about how your survival pack was distributed.
 

Suggestion:  The Dollar Tree (not Dollar General) is a great place to get the most for your money on most of the items for pack #1.  Wal-Mart is great for the baby packs. Parent’s Choice (Wal-Mart brand)  diapers and formula are great.
 

*Send to: AIM, 6000 Wellspring, Tr., Gainesville, GA 30506

Comments (14)

  • D

    Our family has been making these kits for the Methodist Church Relief Org., and I can report that Walmart is the best source for bandages, soap, and washcloths if you can buy in bulk. Walmart has 18-packs of washcloths for $4, and they are pretty nice. My foster sons and I will be making some to send with you, Seth. I love that we can put a note in there (we can’t do so with the UMCOR packs).

  • H

    Seth are you still taking articles to Haiti? I have hundreds of toiletry articles I’d like to donate but don’t know how to do so.

  • Teri

    If you write “Jezi renmen ou” it means Jesus loves you. If you write “Jezi se sel espwa Ayiti” it means Jesus is the hope of Haiti.

  • seth

    If you send them to us, we will make sure they get sent to Haiti with a team going over there. If you want to send them with my team, I need to have them by 2/10.

  • Deb

    Great! My kids filled plastic shoeboxes with items for a child their own age–with some nonperishable foods, toiletries, a tshirt, flashlight, and a snuggly toy. They drew cards and sent a family photo. We sent them via a Baptist missionary. It really brought it home for my kids.

  • Cheryl Trudel

    Hi Seth, I am catching up on blog updates. I missed the cutoff to send survival packs with your team. Should I send the survival packs to you in Gainesville for subsequent teams/trips? If another address should be used please let me know.

  • seth

    thanks, Cheryl and all others. Yes, please send them to
    6000 Wellspring Tr., Gainesville, GA 30506

    we’ll take them soon.

  • Ruth Jacobs

    Hi I just received the email today, Wednesday, the 10th. When is the definitive cut-off day for you to have the packs? If they arrive late, will you be going back again to redistribute more packs? This is a great idea, I want to help. Thank you.

  • Alida Rodriguez

    I’d love to do this for my homeschool group park day in March. Who could I send them to? You’ll be gone by then! Alida w5

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I'm motivated to join God in his global reclamation project. He's on the move, setting his sons and daughters free from their places of captivity. And he's partnering with those of us who have been freed to go and free others.

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