F2F Gift Shipments
Updated 8-4-08

This is an opportunity to help your adopted family beyond the $30 per month of food. A large ocean-going container is shipped to Peru up to four times per year with other local Catholic parishes sharing the cost. In-transit-shipping time is about three months.

You can download a Receipt of Donated Items form for your tax records

Preparing Boxes of Gifts for Shipment
• Preferred boxes (18x12x12) are available at Love Box Co., 601 South Broadway, Edmond (359-1551)
• Fill your box fully so that it does not crush under many other boxes. Give it a "sit test."
• Do not use packaging materials—the poor do not have garbage pickup; use towels, etc. to finish filling boxes
• The Peruvian government allows no cards or letters in the box
• Fill out the downloadable Inventory List
• Seal the box with tape
• Place the “Inventory List” securely to the outside top of of box with clear tape—see photo below
• No name may appear on the outside or inside of the box
• With a black marking pen, write your code on the top and all sides of the box
    o Your code will look like SM-MMM/PPP
    o SM is St. Monica
    o MMM is your St. Monica I.D. number
    o PPP is the I.D. number of your adopted family
• Deliver your box to the parish on announced dates
    o Boxes will be delivered by volunteers to a warehouse in OKC
    o Boxes will loaded into a container for shipment—volunteers will be solicited

Suggestions for Gifts to Send to Your Family
• Certain donated items are not useful for the very poor. They have very little since they earn about $1 to 2 per day. Most of their homes have no utilities: no running water, sewer, or electricity. Many homes are about 300 square feet, made of bamboo walls and a metal roof on a bamboo frame, and a dirt floor. They live in the desert near the equator where the lowest temperature in the winter is 60 and the highest temperature in the summer is 95.

• So, do not send difficult to clean clothes of wool, silk, or dry-clean-only, or heavy winter coats, used underwear, or items with price tags (Peru customs regulation).

• Also, do not send
    - Electric appliances
    - Sofas and matching chairs, or any large piece of furniture (can be purchased in Piura)
    - Breakable items such as glassware and china (can be purchased in Piura)
    - Mattresses and box springs (can be purchased in Piura)
    - Anything with instructions not in Spanish or children’s books in English

• New items are preferred
• Used items are okay as long as they are clean and not torn (rags)
• Clean clothes are always needed. Sizes in Peru do not correspond to sizes in the U.S. Adult males are usually very slim, but short, between 5’5” and 5’8”. Adult females are usually slightly plump, not as heavy as in the U.S., and shorter than a male. Judge children’s sizes by their age, with the understanding that they would be slightly shorter than children in the U.S. All children are very slim.

Here are some suggestions:
• Sweaters; it can get chilly in the winter
• Women’s blouses and skirts, as well as pants and dresses
• Men’s shirts and trousers, long and short
• Children’s clothes, boys and girls, all ages
• Infants clothing, diapers and any item used to clothe infants
• Underwear for men, women, and children.


Other Suggestions

Kitchen Items
• Dishes
• Coffee mugs
• Dish towels, sponges
• Pots and pans; heavy duty, cast iron
• Paring knives
• Potato peeler
• Plastic storage containers
• Cooler
• Soup bowls
• Silverware
• Hot pads, mitts
• Stirring spoons
• Cutting board
• Serving bowls
• Water jugs (5 gallons)

Bathroom/Toiletries
• Bath and hand towels; wash clothes
• Soap and shampoo
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste/fluoride
• Dental floss
• Hand cream
• Razors
• Lip balm
• Feminine hygiene pads
• Vitamins (all over-the-counter medicine must have 6 months or more expiration date!)
• Finger and toe nail cutters

Household Items
• Sheets (twin)
• Bedspread (light weight)
• Mosquito netting
• Candles
• Tables: small (folding, narrow)
• Chairs (folding, plastic, etc.)
• Rope
• Footlocker with lock and key
• Picture frames (4x6 or smaller)
• Pillows and pillow cases
• Blankets
• Small rugs (washable)
• Hook rack
• Shelving and storage bins
• Tarps
• Hand tools
• Canvas carrying bags
• Scissors

Children’s Items
• Bicycles
• Water bottles
• Balls, soccer, football, etc.
• Toys (no guns)
• Backpacks
• School supplies
• Books in Spanish
• Stuffed animals

Other
• Sewing supplies: yarn, thread, fabric, trim, etc.
• Sunglasses
• Work gloves
• Instruments
• Flip flops
• Hats, baseball caps
• Sun protection lotion
• Umbrella for shade