Where your clothes went

A few very kind souls sent some old clothes and things to South Africa. Thank you very much for that. I thought I’d let you know where it went.

My sister is training to become a qualified Doula and as part of her training and as part of her outreach programme, she volunteers at a State maternity unit here in South Africa. The divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is especially huge when it comes to health care. The rich all have private medical insurance, the poor have to rely on the overworked and understaffed state hospitcals.

The maternity unit services a vast area and it’s where many young, mostly black, mostly unemployed women go to give birth. My sister says the unit is wonderful, and the staff there are fantastic as well, but the unit is grossly understaffed, under funded and the poor (literally and figuratively) women who go there often arrive completely bewildered and scared. They come in, stand in queues, give birth and are sent home a few hours later, literally with just the clothes on their back and their brand new baby.

What my sister has started doing is putting together care packages for the new moms, she is trying to source donations from various parties to include in the care package, any thing, old clothes, blankets, any thing. These women have nothing. And that is no exaggeration. 

I gave her the clothes I received from you and she put them in the care packages so that each new mom received one item of clothing for themselves and one outfit for their baby.

I am going to give Adam and Kate’s clothes to her as well so that she can include that.

Here is a letter my sister has distributed to the women in her area. Download bosom_buddies.doc

Anyway, thank you for those who sent old clothes, I assure you they have gone to a very good cause.

Then, I have to make mention of a very special woman, Charmaine, a cyber friend I’ve known for about five years. We met when we were both trying for a baby. Sadly for her, her journey ended before she was able to have a baby. She yearns for a child still. 

She runs a small store in a mall that sells sunglasses among other things and she very kindly, and her expense, sent a box full of last seasons sunglasses to me, so that I could give them out to people here. She donates plenty of her time, money and goods to the needy in America, but she sent some stuff to South Africa as well.

I’ve had the box for a while, wondering who I should give it to, when I got an email last week. It was from a woman I work with. Her sons are in Scouts and part of their outreach programme is the local orphanage.  She forwarded a list to me, from the kids in the orphanage of what they would like for Christmas, their Christmas wish list. It broke my heart.  Download wenslys_2005.xls

The kids wanted such simple things – candy, hair accessories, trainers etc. It makes me weep every time I read it. It breaks my heart. I’ve attached the list here – it’s in Afrikaans, I’ve translated some stuff (in red) but if you want to know what other things mean I’ll gladly translate that as well.

The orphanage have suggested that people ‘sponsor’ one kid’s gift. I immediately knew where to send the sunglasses. The woman collecting the donations said the kids are absolutely going to LOVE the sunglasses. I made sure there was a pair for every child.

 

So Charmaine, you’ve done a wonderful thing my friend. There are a whole bunch of kids out there whose Christmas is going to be just a little bit more exciting this year.

This is what Christmas is all about.

Thank you to those who’ve helped.  And thanks Bridgette for wanting to send even more stuff, your blanket idea sounds wonderful!

To any South African readers – if you’d like to help by donating old clothes etc to the care packages, or if you’d like to help with the Christmas wish list for the orphanage, please drop me an email and I will put you in touch with the right people.

Comments

[heather]

T, you are a wonderful person.

That's all there is to it. I'm v glad I 'know' you.

:)

[Emma]

Thank God for people like you. You and your friends are such wonderful people.

[Bridgette]

Don't thank me yet. You haven't seen my blankets. ;)

And I seriously do spend a large amount of time trying to figure out ways to help. There just has to be something I can do to make a difference, even if it is just a hand made blanket.

[Bridgette]

And one more thing. Charmaine is AMAZING, isn't she?

[Dani]

Yet another reason for me to like you. :)

On a local level, I give until it hurts. If it isn't my money, food or gently used clothing... it's my time. I give as much as I can. Every little bit helps. I am a firm believer in "Take Care Of Your Own". If people would just give within their community (I am not saying that no one should give to international charities... please don't get all lynch mob-ish on me), there would be much less waste and people would get what they need, when they need it. It sickens me to see that donated goods sometimes sit in warehouses until they rot or are stolen. What you are involved in seems almost fool-proof. There should be more charities run like this.

[maia]

You are a kind soul Tertia. The world needs many more like you!

[c@th]

Ah Tertia

You rock my socks. And youve inspired me too. Instead of buying gifts for the adults in my life this year, I am donating toys and colouring in books and crayons to a children's home near me, in each adult's name, including those of relatives and close friends who have passed on. if anyone reading this in Durban, SA and would like to join in, email me!

Thank you Tertia. You are A-fucking-mazing

C@th

[Jennie]

:( how can words hurt so much when they are about a place a world away from where I am and about people I will never know. my heart broke for the small things they (the kids) want for christmas, white socks something so mundane is some childs greatest desire. Cath in a comment above said she'll donate in the name of her grown up relatives instead of buying for them this year, I'll echo that and do the same but you know (generic you not specific you) we here don't long for simple things like socks toys games etc yes but not socks, and please before some one jumps me for that comment I've donated time and energy every year to the christmas appeals and do read the letters to "santa" not once have I seen anything as heart achingly sad as the excel spreadsheet posted here.

[Jenn in AK]

Sometimes on a Project Angel Tree you'll see items like socks, etc. but those aren't asked for by the kids.

I like Cath's idea. I can't do it this year, but in Jan. I'll start a fund for Christmas stuff. Next year, I think I'll put together goodie bags for the kids at the Women's Shelter and the Rescue Mission here in town. Then I can send a card to each adule in our family telling them what they've given! :-) Oh, I like that idea! Thanks, Cath!

Jenn

[Charmaine]

Wow, didn't expect to be on your blog, no recognition needed at all but I'm very happy to know that the children will be getting the sunglasses, clothes and shoes. That is great that you found a wonderful place to distribute them. Thank you Tertia and thank you for bringing awareness to charity. You are awesome, as always.
xxoo

[Charmaine]

P.S. Bridgette's blankets are awesome and Tertia has seen them. :) Plus they are made with lots of love. How special is that!

[Anjelica Rodarte]

Tertia,

I have been an avid reader of your site for about 2 years now. I really want to help somehow with the HUGE need there in SA My heart just aches reading of the need there in SA, particularly with the children. My aunt just returned from a mission trip to SA and told me she spent 99% of her time washing babies that have not had baths in over a month. I want to help, but how? My aunt told me that things are often confiscated and taken by the officers or whomever and then never reach their final destination. Is this true? Can I send you things directly and have you deliver them to their final destination? What is of the most need. Clothes? Personal Hygiene Items? Cash donations?

Thanks for your help in this matter!

Anjelica

[tinashe]

i would like to donate. how can i do it?