I so often send a shoutout for baby clothes to our American friends and they always surprise me by their generosity and support they give Bosom Buddies. Really my American girlfriends, I mean this when I say you literally reduce me to tears with your kindness and the way you identify with our moms and babies.
Up till now my English readers have not been able to send too much at all because of our stupid custom laws here and the big duties I get penalized with. Well my lovely little English roses, this is about to change! Now I have the fortune of having Riki who lives in the UK but is ex-SA, on fire for BB. Riki is on a mission to collect baby clothes for us and has a friend who is relocating back to SA and has offered us a space in her container. We need 0-3 month (mostly) and 3-6 month sizes of babygros and vests. We also need wool to use for knitted baby cardigans and beanies. Oh, and waterproofs/plastic pants/pilchers too pls. I took so long to learn 'American' and now I am not sure of the British names for baby clothes??
Blankies are also a need but don't buy new, only if you have 2nd hand. Rather spend those pennies on clothes if you are keen to shop but gently used is just as good. Don't forget your local charity shop, Riki says she has found loads of bargains there too.
The container is being packed on the 9th of June so the clothes need to be sent by the end of May. If you e-mail Riki, she will give you an address. Her e-mail is rikic@btinternet.com or mail me and I will fwd it it to her. I love how this little project is reaching people around the world. For all the Lordy folk, keep on praying for us pls, I feel like I am about to hit an oasis in the middle of my crappy-no-provision desert walk. I see the water shimmering and am hoping that it is not just a mirage! Please!!
Yes, I am on a mission! Two years ago my eldest daughter went on a months outreach programme to Namibia and we visited our local charity shops in search of baby clothes to send out there. Can you imagine how horrified we were to discover that there is no market for baby clothes in this country as the leading supermarkets all have their own brand of baby clothes at knock down prices. Every mother wants her baby to have new clothes - so did I all those years ago. The result is that most of the baby clothes donated to charity shops (Not all but certainly most of them) are RAGGED - just that - turned into rags! Outrageous when there are so many people in need - but as Mel says its the red tape and postage that makes it difficult. So, ladies, please when you are at Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda etc., pop a packet of baby items into your grocery shopping and send it to me for onward shipping. I have visited my local charity shops and they are frantically collecting for me - they all know what it is like to be asking, so go visit them and ask them to put stuff aside for you. We do have this deadline of June 9th so anything that you can get to me prior to that will be brilliant. Go Girls, Go !!
Posted by: Riki | 15 May 2008 at 08:43 AM
I missed the mail boat when you were in the US earlier this year due to an unexpected emergency trip to help my dad, but have been collecting boy and neutral baby things since then. I will be in London and then Scotland in August and had thought to send them from there but it sounds as if that may not be the best idea. Should I send them to England now or should I just send them directly to you? Let me know what is best. I also have a daughter traveling to Denmark and she could send them from there or if you know anyone in will be traveling in that area. Just let me know.
Posted by: Melissia | 15 May 2008 at 10:42 AM
I missed the mail boat when you were in the US earlier this year due to an unexpected emergency trip to help my dad, but have been collecting boy and neutral baby things since then. I will be in London and then Scotland in August and had thought to send them from there but it sounds as if that may not be the best idea. Should I send them to England now or should I just send them directly to you? Let me know what is best. I also have a daughter traveling to Denmark and she could send them from there or if you know anyone in will be traveling in that area. Just let me know.
Posted by: Melissia | 15 May 2008 at 10:43 AM
ok i live in SA (Pretoria) and would also like to help, my sister is building her house and so the whole house is packed up... and i saw a box full of baby clothes laying around... how do i get it to you Mel??
Posted by: sweets | 15 May 2008 at 01:04 PM
Hurrah! I will put the word out about this in the UK. Holding thumbs that you will be inundated Mel!
Posted by: Jeanne | 15 May 2008 at 06:17 PM
can you let us austral-asia based folks know when you sis is headed to sa from seoul for a break? we'll send her a bunch of blue and pink and yellow baby stuff.
xo tess
Posted by: tess | 18 May 2008 at 04:24 PM
oh that is simply awesomely spectacular!
Posted by: angel | 19 May 2008 at 10:02 PM