Sending Goodwill to Mozambique
April 16th
When I was a kid, there was a television program in Phoenix called “The Wallace and Ladmo Show.” Wallace and Ladmo did all kinds of silly skits in front of a live audience of school children. At the end of each show, each kid received a brown paper Ladmo Bag that was overflowing with goodies. They would zoom in on the lucky ones as they tore through their treasure trove of junk food and toys, and rolled the credits.
How I wanted one of those bags. Ask any native Phoenician age 20 or older about Ladmo bags and watch him or her foam at the mouth. It’s a city-wide phenomena.
What child doesn’t love to receive gifts and feel special? When I return to Mozambique next month, I will work in an orphanage. There are two large orphanages in town — one for babies to age seven, and the second from age seven to 18. Most of the mothers died during childbirth, or afterward from HIV. The orphanage population fluctuates; there are typically more than 100 children in each facility.
The children at the older facility are in school. Like many in this country, they live in a type of poverty (and general hunger) that is unfathomable. Yet I haven’t lost hope that we can nourish these children into becoming the future leaders of a healthy, productive and happy country. They are wonderful kids and like children in any country — they want to be loved. They don’t want their children to be raised in an orphanage. It is easy for them to dream of a better life.
Next month, I would like to hand each of the kids at the older orphanage a small bag of goodies. I envision a quart-sized Ziplock bag including a bar of soap, a toothbrush, dental floss, a pack of gum, Chapstick and perhaps some stickers. Most importantly, I see a small card with a photo of their new American friend. The card is written in English and Portuguese and says why this American wanted to extend her/his friendship and wish this child well. {If I had kids, I’d include a family photo.} The entire bag shouldn’t cost more than $10 to put together and mail.
If you are interested in sending one (or more) of these bags, please contact me. In return, I promise to take many photos of the children at the orphanage and send you a print when I return. This is a simple way you can easily make a difference in the life of a child in need; imagine their joy when they find out there are people they’ve never met who love them.
Will you help? Raesha has offered to help coordinate this. Please email either of us with questions!
~K
I’d love to participate Kelli and I’ll pass the word along. I know many others would like to send some love too.
Count me in for 4 bags. And I will send the film as well. What a wonderful thought for the older kids who often times get forgotten. Most people feel like they want to help the babies and the older kids get left out. Thank you for your kind heart.
I would love to help!
YES! I’d love to help out.
I’m in. Send me the info.
Oh Kelli! Count me in! Send me the info and I’ll be shopping away!
You are a wonderful inspiration my friend.
Kelli,
I’d like to use my promotional product connections to get lip balm and perhaps hand sanitizer donated. How many total of each would you need and where can i have them sent to be placed in each bag?
Email me the info. I’d love to help.
Adam
count me in! when do we need to have them to you?
Also, for anyone interested in similar acts of compassion, i invite you to check out http://www.riseupinc.org. I became involved with them through their clothing line of which they donate 100% of the profit to building non-institutional orphanages and schools in India and Nicaragua, with more coming soon.
Yes, please give me all the details. I would love to help.
what a wonderful thing to do! count me and my son in!
Me & My 4 yo son are so in. Now to find the contact information.
Necia
Miss Kelli – count me in. I would love to help out.
You can definitely count me in!
I’m in, and I’ll send you some film as well if you’ll give me specifics. I’ll pass the word along as well.
I’m in! Just to clarify… we should send these items to you in the quart sized zip-lock bag, all ready to go?
I’m going to email my “sticker” connection and see if I can’t get a whole bunch of neat animal ones to send you.
I’m in too!
I’m definitely in! Just let me know where to send.
kelli,
love to do this, send me info!
amy
I’m in too! Just give me the details…do you want individual bags already made up or just the stuff to make them?
I’m in. Please send me details. We should be able to contribute 4 bags.
Way to go, Kelli!
Where do we mail the bags?
And can we include some of our own handmade items? What would you do to us if we put more than $10 of stuff in our donation bags?
-Tina
Absolutely, count me in. Send the info and it will happen. I will tell all my friends as well…ciao
I am in, as will my sister and mother. Tell us what you need. BTW – I got a Ladmo bag once. It was uber cool.
I would love to help, too. =) I’ll be waiting for more info! Great idea. =)
of course! And, I’d like to coordinate some from other’s in my ‘hood, if they cooperate. Please afford me the details.
I’m also curious about the limits. If I take my child and allow her to pick the goods, they may be a tad extravagant (she’ll want to pick the fancy princes toothbrush just like hers, and the Dora toothpaste, and the rootbeer flavored chapstick, etc.) Is that ridiculous?? If it is, I’ll avoid it. But, if it’s ok – I’d like to let her do what she wishes with the shopping list. If standards like this do apply – please make us aware.
If there are other optional items that can be included – please also advise on that. (sunscreens? healing ointments? washcloths? etc.)
Yes, yes! Please sign me up. I’m happy to give. When I was in Kenya years ago, we took ink pens too for the kids and they seemed to love them. Just let me know what to do/where to send, etc.
I want to play! I think this is smashing, and you rule for thinking it up, Kelli!
I’d love to help. Please send me details!
I would be honored to help, Kelli. Please let me know what you need me to do.
Yep, will do. If I bring the bags on vacay this weekend, would that work?
Please send me some info. It sounds like a great thing to do.
Count me in. This is a wonderful idea!
I’m so in!
Oh Kelli! I would *love* to help out too! =) Please send me more info!
count me in. i’ll let friends know too, see if any of them are interested. i’ll put it on my blog too.
What a wonderful initiative, Kelli!
I would love to help too… is it possible, even though I’m not American?!
Me too – let me know what I can do – send something from Aust – send money??
Please count me in too…I’d LOVE to help!
Another Ladmo bag winner here!
Not sure how many bags you can take along, but if you need more, I would love to get my boys involved and put some together.
Count me in! Can you mail the bags ahead of you or will you need a jumbo suitcase? We have an amazing $ store here, stickers are no problem. Even Ziplock bags.
Count me in, please!
I would love to help! I’ll go pick up some goodies this week and check back here for more info on where to send everything.
Kelli,
I read about what you are doing from Autum’s site and I think it is wonderful.
I have a question for you. I have been crocheting baby hats for a program that I was too late to participate in. Would you be interested in some baby hats to take to the other orphanage? Or would this be too much at this time for you? And if you want this could be an ongoing project that I could send you hats as I finish them and you could take them whenever you go. Just a thought. Let me know if interested? Thanks, Kathie from Mesa
kelli, you are a beautiful person with a beautiful heart. please include me + let me know where to send goodies + the deadline before you go.
Kelli, you are awesome. I’d absolutely love to participate. Give us the details whenever you get a chance.
Kelli, this is awesome and I would love to help, but I am totally swamped. Send me the details and I will try to see how I can help.
Those pictures just broke my heart. Of course I’ll participate.
Kelli, I love this kind of project! Fantastic. Unfortunately I (like others) am somewhat overwhelmed at the moment and don’t foresee a chance to shop and collate goods myself … Can I send money, to help with purchasing items, or with postage or shipping, or are there other ways to support you at this time? Please do let me know.
I’m in for 3 bags! Just tell me where to send them and I’ll pop them in the mail at the end of the week. Can we include a few other goodies too?