i am collecting stuff for an orphanage in Zimbabwe

[starlover]

My friend has links with an orphanage in zimbabwe where she worked for a hwile a few years ago.
We're sending out some Christmas parcels and any donations would be more than welcome!
If you would like to post something yourself I can provide the address.

Am I being too cheeky posting this?

Good idea! Not sure people would post things though as that can work out as expensive. Why not ask your local supermarkets if you can put a couple of boxes in the foyer for donations with a bit of info about what you are doing?

yeah this is the problem we're having cliff! i am sending a load of ds's baby clothes over and our postage costs are rapidly rising!

so, obviously if anyone wants to donate any money to help with costs that would be very much appreciated as well!!!

will definitely ask local supermarkets though... that's a good idea!

How about ask Mumsnetters for a shoe box type thing? They put in something for a certain child of a certain age, label their parcel, and then send it off to the orphanage? If everyone sends just one or two things, it wouldn't cost them as much and your friend's orphanage would get some nice little parcels in the post!

Make a new thread perhaps? 'Presents for Orphanage Appeal' or something like that?

yes that's a good idea! can you tell i've never really done anything like this before? lol

I wouldn't mind posting something myself if I can have the address please. Could post some light weight puzzles. Are they looking for clothes as well as toys?

here is a link to the orphanage montgomery heights

anythuing is welcome! clothes are always needed. and things like paper and stickers and things go down well!

i don't have the address here at the mo, but will get it from my friend and cat it to anyone who wants!

thank you

Yes please CAT it to me. I will definitely send something.

thanks hmc

Let me know SL, I have some clothes and toys.

Bump

you're all very kind! i am sure they would appreciate the bottles psycho! will CAT everyone with the address

'Fraid I can't really offer anything, got rid of all our baby stuff eons ago and just gave the last remaining toys to a neighbour who has a 6 month old.

Hi everyone!

the address to send things to is:

The Children of Montgomery Heights Christian Care Centre
PO BOX 75
Concession
Zimbabwe.

apparently if it is addressed to an individual person they get lots of tax on them!

The children there range from 0-18 and absolutely anything will be really gratefully received.
If they happen to end up with an excess of anything then they will pass it on to other charities/orphanages in the area.

woha woha woha - before you start spending sh*t loads of money posting the stuff out there have a post on this forum to see if anyone is travelling out for Christmas and would be able to take some stuff over.

I really wouldn't advise on posting stuff out - unless you're sending it by courier - the postal service has always been dodgy (even at the best of times) and parcels are often opened and bits stolen.

actually let me rephrase that last bit "parcels are frequently opened and bits stolen"

I have to say, we have been lucky with everything we have sent out so far! although i do realise there are big issues with the postal service!

If we sent it iwth someone travelling over there how would it then get to the orphanage? they're unlikely to be travelling near it,. so would have to post it anyway?

starlover - you must have been very lucky - we (or DH's family) never send anything other than letters out there now - even Cards get opened to check for money inside

If they weren't travelling up that way I'm sure they'd be able to post them in the country - and internal mail has a better track record than mail from overseas.

Oh, now I'm not sure about what to do....[unsure waivering emoticon]

Agree with QofQ - post in Zim is a disaster. Even letters get opened to see if there is any cash in. We all desperately want to help Zim but it's much better to send stuff out with a person than try to post it.