Humanitarian Aid Shipments

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Tips on collecting and packing

Shipping Partners

Our work in Nicaragua began during the 1980's and continues with hopes and dreams inspired by the sacrifice and example of our partners in Nicaragua. We are fortunate to work with Nicaraguan non-governmental organizations that translate our good intentions and assistance into life affirming services and projects. Our aid not only helps people rebuild their lives and communities, it sustains a people's hope — a lullaby for a country so flooded in tears — as beckoned by Nicaraguan poet Gioconda Belli. Here are some glimpses of how our Nicaraguan partners put our aid to work, how we organize our aid collections in New Jersey, and how you can take part in fun, sweat, and sharing.

A Leap of Faith. Each shipment begins with a leap of faith that we will collect enough aid to fill a 45 foot cargo container, that we will raise the $10,000 to pay overall shipment expenses, and that the aid will get to our friends in Nicaragua. The effort starts with people clearing out their closets, students gathering school supplies, and ambulance corps workers collecting crutches and hospital beds. It ends with the aid keeping kids in school or playing ball, allowing young women to leave drugs and exploitation for independent lives and brighter futures, enabling Nicaraguans to rebuild their communities and livelihoods, sharing hope and sustenance.

Our Nicaraguan Partners. Masaya Without Frontiers, or MASINFA, distributes aid to groups throughout Masaya and puts our desks, file cabinets, typewriters, computer systems, sporting goods, and more to work in their offices, technical school and other programs. Inhijambia works with Managua's street children, putting our aid to work on the streets providing clothing and hygiene supplies to the youths; in their offices training youths on donated sewing machines and computers; in their independent living sites offering young people the household supplies with which to start a new life — their staff is fearless, the kids’ stories heartbreaking, the results inspiring — utilizing every scrap of aid donated by so many. The Masaya Women’s Collective uses school supplies we send for their literacy sessions, give our tools to women involved in the collective’s project to enable women to grow food for their families, for self-sufficiency and independence, while bicycles enable their literacy trainers to reach rural communities and help the women market their goods. Our newest partner, FEDICAMP, puts our tools and other supplies to work re-greening Nicaragua, protecting watersheds, and fostering an integrated, community agriculture of life.

School Supplies After years of government neglect leaving 1.2 million people unable to read and write, the new Nicaraguan leadership has renewed efforts to fight illiteracy and make education accessible for all. Help by sending school supplies — notebooks, pens and pencils, crayons, paper, rulers, colored pencils, scissors, water color paints, and more. Scour your home and ask your neighbors for unused supplies. Gather materials at yard sales. Involve schools, religious organizations, girl/boy scout troops, and civic groups. We are also collecting books in English and Spanish for MASINFA’s library. In the picture to the left, a young boy writes “I want to change my life.” in an Inhijambia literacy class held in a former police holding pen once used to contain other huelepaga’s or glue-sniffing young people and now used by Inhijambia to help restore them to a secure, safe, and productive place in Nicaraguan society.

Tools FEDICAMP, fights the desertification of northern Nicaragua where rivers are dying and water tables are falling due to deforestation. Collect rakes, shovels, pitch forks, and other garden tools to help them re-green Nicaragua and to fight global warming. The Masaya Women’s Collective also uses these tools in their agricultural training programs and gives them to women seeking economic independence.

Bring on the Bikes We will accept bicycles in good condition — please, no rusty relics. Bicycles help teachers ride to work, people to bring their goods to market, students to school — you would be surprised at the number of bicycles on the busy Nicaraguan streets.

Computers The young girls fignting to build a new life learn computer skills on computers from our shipments donated to Inhijambia. MASINFA uses computers we send in their techincal school and offices, and gives others to community organizations in their region. Our other partner organizations use the computers also. Please donate Pentium III’s or newer. Send only complete computers systems in good working order — not just old monitors.

Sports Equipment Nicaraguans love baseball, to put it lightly. Soccer is preferred in some areas. Basketball is played on many street corners. Volleyball is enjoyed by many. The desire is there — for people of all ages, for girls and boys, women and men — but they often lack the basic supplies. Think of all the unused sports supplies throw away by community sports leagues and by school athletic departments. Think of all the bats, balls, gloves, and other equipment collecting dust in people’s garages, closet’s, and basements. Well, go out and gather them, putting them to good use. The boy in the picture above is using a stick for a baseball bat — let’s send him and many others real bats, balls, gloves, and more.
General Aid Supplies air conditioners and fans, garden and carpentry tools household and kitchen items, summer clothing, toys Office Supplies & Equipment file cabinets, folders, paper, desks Medical Supplies vitamins, aspirin, first aid items, wheelchairs, crutches

Notes on Packing Aid Supplies Try not to mix items such as clothing with school supplies. Pack boxes tightly. If possible, write down a simple inventory of the contents of each box. Pack summer clothing in small plastic bags — we pack them between the hooks and crannies to better utilize space.

Help On The Loading Day Please come to the United Presbyterian Church in Plainfield on May 3 to help us pack boxes, stuff bags full of clothing, and load the cargo container. We need many volunteers to do all the work from 10 in the morning into the evening. If you know of a church or scout group, bring them to help. The church presents volunteers with the space to work and rest, along with a great lunch and plenty of coffee. It is a wonderful day to accompany so many people packing so much stuff, all eventually asking the same question — will we be able to get all of the stuff into the cargo container. Call Jim Burchell at (973) 765-9102 or email at peaceworks@peaceworks.org to let us know you are coming.