There are many ways to help out. Below is a breakdown of the items we need.
1.Newborn hats:
1.Newborn hats:
You can not take the baby out of the little robe but can put on hats and socks to help keep them warm.
If you are part of or know of knitting circles that would be willing to knit or crochet newborn hats. Please help spread the word with our contact information.
2. Receiving blankets:
The babies are given a heavy curtain like material to be wrapped in but you are allowed to wrap them in your own blanket.
A cotton receiving blanket or a fleece blanket, be it handmade or purchased, can be used. The cheapest option I have found are fleece blankets for $1 at the dollar tree. They can be purchased individually at the store or online by case (36 to a case) and drop shipped to our address in Miami. Feel free to purchase elsewhere or make your own. We can not however, receive used blankets.
4. Washclothes and baby soap:
The baby is wiped off at birth but washed by mom in a steel bowl after 24 hours. The baby is given a clean robe to put on so most moms will wash the babies with the robe the baby had on prior. The robes are made of the same heavy material mentioned above. We want to include the washcloth for a softer feel and so mom doesn't have to wrestle with trying to wash the baby with a large heavy material. Washclothes can me made or purchased. Any material can be used that is gentle on babies skin. I have found a pack of 4 for $1 at the dollar tree. Material will be bought to make them here if they aren't donated from the US. A small bar of homemade goats milk soap will be included as well.
3. Diapers:
Diapers need a special permission to be shipped into the country. This is not always an easy feat therefore we have decided that unless there is a large donation of diapers we will not be able to receive diapers from the USA. The cost per diaper here is approximately .30
5. Wet wipes:
Wet wipes too need a special permit to come into the country. The small size that is a dollar in the US is double the price here. I have found a packet that would cost about .75. However the most economical way to give out these wipes is to purchase a large case of wet wipes and seperate it out putting a few in individual small ziplock bags.
6. Water Bottles:
With the exception of preemies all the babies are to be nursed during their time in the hospital. If you don't know to bring your own way of keeping a water supply then you have to stay hydrated by walking over to the sink and drinking with your hands. The original thought was a collapsable water bottle found for $1.00 in the US, then I found a place that sells new plastic water bottles here for much less. While the collapsable water bottle is something mom can take home with her and the plastic bottle she will discard, the goal is to make sure she has something to use during her hospital stay so to be cost effective we will be using those. The cost is approximately .35 per bottle.
7. Christian Literature:
We have designed, with the permission of Megan Breedlove of manaformoms.com, a gospel presentation and encouragement letter for the new moms. We will also be including on the literature our email address. On the back we note that the supplies are made possible through donations and that the hats were handmade especially for their babies. We will be printing these ourselves on our home printer as it is much more cost effective. If there is a church or school willing to print a large quantity and mail them to us please contact us.
8. Make it pretty:
I have always been of the belief that half of a gift is in the presentation. One day I would like to be able to package the items together in a small reusable bag, made or plastic or cotton, like the kind you might use for your groceries. This way mom could keep it as a form of a diaper bag, but for now we will be putting the items in a shiny clear plastic bag and tie it together with ribbon. I will buy the bags by the kilo and the ribbon by the yard.
9. Monitary donations:
Besides the items listed above, our additional expense will be for shipping and taxes for any supplies donated from the Miami address in the U.S. We will be personally delivering each packet as often as we have the supplies or the means to purchase the supplies. We have made every effort to find the best ways to keep our cost as low as possible so we can be good stewards of what we are given to reach out to as many women as possible.
If you would like to give a monitary donation you may do so online. If you prefer to send a check or would like to receive a tax deduction for a donation please email us at chubbycheekschichi@gmail.com for details prior to your donation. Online donations will not be able to qualify for tax deductions.
10. Additional items:
The basic kit contains the following:
1. A baby hat and or blanket. The hope would be to give both but if we are in short supply it will be one or the other.
2. A washcloth with a small bar of soap
3. A couple of diapers. We have been told that we will be privy to the knowledge of who has the greater economical need and in which case we hope to have additional diapers on hand that we can give out.
4. A disposable water bottle
5. Wet wipes
6. Christian Literature and contact information.
Other items we will include if provided:
Knitted baby socks
Socks for mom
Baby onesie
Reusable small plastic or cotton bag to put items in as a form of a diaper bag.
If you have an idea or something else you would like to donate for the kits please contact us.
If you are part of or know of knitting circles that would be willing to knit or crochet newborn hats. Please help spread the word with our contact information.
2. Receiving blankets:
The babies are given a heavy curtain like material to be wrapped in but you are allowed to wrap them in your own blanket.
A cotton receiving blanket or a fleece blanket, be it handmade or purchased, can be used. The cheapest option I have found are fleece blankets for $1 at the dollar tree. They can be purchased individually at the store or online by case (36 to a case) and drop shipped to our address in Miami. Feel free to purchase elsewhere or make your own. We can not however, receive used blankets.
4. Washclothes and baby soap:
The baby is wiped off at birth but washed by mom in a steel bowl after 24 hours. The baby is given a clean robe to put on so most moms will wash the babies with the robe the baby had on prior. The robes are made of the same heavy material mentioned above. We want to include the washcloth for a softer feel and so mom doesn't have to wrestle with trying to wash the baby with a large heavy material. Washclothes can me made or purchased. Any material can be used that is gentle on babies skin. I have found a pack of 4 for $1 at the dollar tree. Material will be bought to make them here if they aren't donated from the US. A small bar of homemade goats milk soap will be included as well.
3. Diapers:
Diapers need a special permission to be shipped into the country. This is not always an easy feat therefore we have decided that unless there is a large donation of diapers we will not be able to receive diapers from the USA. The cost per diaper here is approximately .30
5. Wet wipes:
Wet wipes too need a special permit to come into the country. The small size that is a dollar in the US is double the price here. I have found a packet that would cost about .75. However the most economical way to give out these wipes is to purchase a large case of wet wipes and seperate it out putting a few in individual small ziplock bags.
6. Water Bottles:
With the exception of preemies all the babies are to be nursed during their time in the hospital. If you don't know to bring your own way of keeping a water supply then you have to stay hydrated by walking over to the sink and drinking with your hands. The original thought was a collapsable water bottle found for $1.00 in the US, then I found a place that sells new plastic water bottles here for much less. While the collapsable water bottle is something mom can take home with her and the plastic bottle she will discard, the goal is to make sure she has something to use during her hospital stay so to be cost effective we will be using those. The cost is approximately .35 per bottle.
7. Christian Literature:
We have designed, with the permission of Megan Breedlove of manaformoms.com, a gospel presentation and encouragement letter for the new moms. We will also be including on the literature our email address. On the back we note that the supplies are made possible through donations and that the hats were handmade especially for their babies. We will be printing these ourselves on our home printer as it is much more cost effective. If there is a church or school willing to print a large quantity and mail them to us please contact us.
8. Make it pretty:
I have always been of the belief that half of a gift is in the presentation. One day I would like to be able to package the items together in a small reusable bag, made or plastic or cotton, like the kind you might use for your groceries. This way mom could keep it as a form of a diaper bag, but for now we will be putting the items in a shiny clear plastic bag and tie it together with ribbon. I will buy the bags by the kilo and the ribbon by the yard.
9. Monitary donations:
Besides the items listed above, our additional expense will be for shipping and taxes for any supplies donated from the Miami address in the U.S. We will be personally delivering each packet as often as we have the supplies or the means to purchase the supplies. We have made every effort to find the best ways to keep our cost as low as possible so we can be good stewards of what we are given to reach out to as many women as possible.
If you would like to give a monitary donation you may do so online. If you prefer to send a check or would like to receive a tax deduction for a donation please email us at chubbycheekschichi@gmail.com for details prior to your donation. Online donations will not be able to qualify for tax deductions.
10. Additional items:
The basic kit contains the following:
1. A baby hat and or blanket. The hope would be to give both but if we are in short supply it will be one or the other.
2. A washcloth with a small bar of soap
3. A couple of diapers. We have been told that we will be privy to the knowledge of who has the greater economical need and in which case we hope to have additional diapers on hand that we can give out.
4. A disposable water bottle
5. Wet wipes
6. Christian Literature and contact information.
Other items we will include if provided:
Knitted baby socks
Socks for mom
Baby onesie
Reusable small plastic or cotton bag to put items in as a form of a diaper bag.
If you have an idea or something else you would like to donate for the kits please contact us.
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