ONGOING INITIATIVE
Donate care packs to your local charity today!
The Garden will provide a grant to you or your ecclesia for up to $250USD ($335CDN) to alleviate the costs associated with purchasing items for these much-needed care packages.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4
To get started, simply follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Or, jump directly to the grant request form. If you have any questions, please email Heide Molinaro.
1. Pray
Pray for God to guide you and find a local charity which needs care packs.
This could be a homeless shelter, women’s refuge or a Red Cross organization helping people affected by natural disasters or some other crisis. This website will help you to find local homeless charities
2. Contact
Contact the charity that you have chosen.
First, ask if they have a need for care packs, and what items they would like you to include (and what to avoid!). If care packs aren’t required, enquire if they know of another local organization who may be interested.
3. Budget & Purchase
Work out your budget per care pack and purchase your items.
The care packs put together by the Schooley’s Mountain Ecclesia (pictured below) cost approx. $14USD ($18CDN) per pack. Click the photos to enlarge.
Ultimately, what you choose depends on whether you’re making simple kits, perhaps in ZipLock bags, or something more substantial. The care packs pictured here included an insulated lunch tote and contained the following items:
- Large print NT bible
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Travel sized deodorant
- Body wash – travel size
- Shampoo (1.7oz)
- Wide toothed comb
- Disposable razor
- Tissue pack
- 10 bandaids
- Travel size handiwipes
- 16oz water bottle
- Bumblebee tuna/chicken snack pack
- Feminine hygiene products
What NOT to include in Care Packs…
- High sugar or Hard Food: Many homeless people do not have access to dental care or supplies so low sugar and softer food is better.
- Alcohol based products: Things such as mouth wash and hand sanitizer can be tempting for addicts to drink. Prevent a future problem by leaving it out all together.
- Soap: Any bathroom will have soap, so it is unnecessary. Also, soap bars are hard to transport when they are wet.
- Medications or Vitamins: Even over the counter medications like Advil should be avoided as it may tempt people to overdose.
- Anything that may melt or spoil it left in the sun
For additional consideration, if you’re including a Bible or other reading/preaching material, be sure it is large print. Many of the people receiving these kits need, but don’t have, glasses.
Secondly, we recommend purchasing brand name items, not generic. It does cost a little more, but letting someone know you feel they are “worth” getting name brand products for has a positive effect on a person’s self esteem.
As a final note, if you would like to make larger care packs, we recommend this supplier for tote bags: apparelnbags.com
4. Create
Set a date for your team to meet to put the packs together.
Time to create the care packs! Decide also whether you’d like to include postcards, with a handwritten message or drawing, or a generic flyer introducing Christadelphians and your local contact information.
Orders for either can be placed via the reimbursement form at the bottom of this page or by emailing: initiatives@thegardenoutreach.org
Ask your group if it’s OK to take some photographs to go with your report for The Garden – and for us to share them on our social media, to inspire others to faith and good works.
5. Deliver
Arrange with your charity a time to drop the care packs off, bearing in mind that there might be COVID restrictions in place.
A few members of your team can drop the packs off. Ask the charity staff if you can take a couple of photographs for your report to The Garden. Ask if it’s OK for The Garden to share the photos on social media. When you visit the charity, try to establish a relationship with the staff. Find out more about the work of the charity. Ask if they would be willing to come along to your ecclesia or CYC, post-COVID, to give a presentation on their charity. Ask if there’s a way that your group can continue to support the work of the charity.
6. Share
Submit a brief report with one or two photographs to The Garden.
We would like to share your reports on our social media, to encourage other brothers and sisters, and so that our communities might glorify our Heavenly Father. Please let us know if you do not want your report sharing.
If you’re ready to get started:
Please direct any questions to initiatives@thegardenoutreach.org
