Haiti Partnership
Friday, September 10, 2010
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School Bags

Local churches can participate in the mission of the Haiti Partnership by assembling school bags for the teams to deliver to the children of Haiti.
 

IMPORTANT CHANGE in our School Bag Program:

We are no longer sewing the actual bags in the U.S.  In November 2008, we met a Business Mentor from Michigan who introduced us to Best Quality Products, a group of women in Port-au-Prince who run a sewing shop - and who desperately need business.  By having these women sew all our bags, we can keep them in business almost year-round, producing much-needed income for their families.
 
PLEASE NOTE: If you currently have sewn bags, of course you may fill them and send them as usual.  This is a period of transition, and we understand it will take some time to change.  In the future, however, please help these women of Haiti and their families by following the instructions below and on the downloadable information sheet.
 
The School Bag information sheet may be downloaded in either PDF or Word format by clicking on the appropriate link below.
 

School Bag Information Sheets

Word format PDF format
 
 
PLEASE NOTE: Do not send crayons or loose-leaf paper
(as listed on previous versions of the school bag information sheet).
 

School Bags for Haiti

Filling the School Bag

Each bag should contain the following items (NO SUBSTITUTIONS, PLEASE).
Please remove all items from packaging.
Place all items in a large ziploc bag. 
Please include $1.00 for each bag to pay for the labor of the women in Port-au-Prince who sew the bags.

1.  Two pads of lined yellow or white paper, 8 1/2" by 11"
2.  1 pair blunt children's scissors
3.  1 12" ruler
4.  1 pencil sharpener
5.  6 unsharpened pencils with erasers
6.  1 2" eraser
7.  1 pack of colored pencils (10-12 per box, can remain in box)
 

NO CRAYONS, PLEASE - they melt in the extreme temperatures of Haiti.

 
NOTE: Children are children no matter where they live. 
They will compare contents of school bags
and will be disappointed if their supplies are different from that of another child's.
 
Completed bags can be delivered to the Conference Center
or you can contact one of the following Haiti Partnership members for drop-off information.
 
Barbara Gay (570) 836-3884
Mike Willis (607) 785-3367
Patty Kaufmann (607) 722-5047
 
 
We have also established collection sites within each district. 
Individuals or groups may drop off FINISHED and FILLED bags
at any of the following locations:
 
Binghamton District
Scranton District    
Vestal UMC    (607) 785-3367    Honesdale UMC
    (570) 253-3291
Endwell UMC    (607) 754-5735 Hemlock Grove UMC    (570) 676-3226
Conference Office    (607) 757-0608 Moscow UMC    (570) 842-7251
    Chinchilla UMC    (570) 587-2578
 
Oneonta District     
 
Wilkes-Barre District
Sherburne UMC    (607) 674-4119 Central UMC, Wilkes-Barre    (570) 822-7246
Sidney UMC    (607) 563-1921             Tunkannock UMC    (570) 836-1229
New Milford UMC    (570) 879-4506       Dorranceton UMC, Kingston    (570) 288-1477
 
 
We began the School Bag Project in 1997
and miraculously received over 900 bags in less than two months! 
In the last nine years, we have taken an estimated 6,000 bags to Methodist school children in Haiti. 
We would like to continue this ministry of helping to support the children of Haiti in their studies.