Below is a note from the Flying Kites Volunteer coordinator. I was told yesterday that there are three more girls that have just arrived at the facility. I would like to get them "adopted" as well. If you have any friends or family that would be interested in participating in this event, please let Kate Gifford know... kategifford@daviesoffice.com
Flying Kites Wish List
We are so thankful to our supporters and volunteers for all of the wonderful in-kind donations that they mail or bring to the Flying Kites Leadership Academy. Please refer to the following list for guidance about the items our children particularly need.
Please note that the Kenyan government taxes all packages mailed to our Kenyan PO Box. Some people choose to make a donation to Flying Kites to offset this cost.
Clothing/Footwear: 13 children need a lot of clothes and shoes! They are in particular need of warm fleeces, sweaters, and jackets. They also need black leather (or pleather) shoes to wear to school and church. The girls would love some casual and more formal dresses. Please refer to the chart below for guidance about sizes.
****OF PARTICULAR NEED---PAJAMAS...
Name Clothing Size
Height Chest Waist Foot Length
Alex (boy) 7 48” 24” 26” 8”
Ann 7 48” 25” 27” 9”
Benson 6 44” 24” 23” 8”
Daniel 8 51” 23” 28” 7.5”
Hannah 12 57” 28” 30” 9.5”
Isaac 6 44” 24” 25” 7”
James 14 58” 27” 30” 10”
Lucy O 6 43” 24” 25” 6”
Lucy W 6 47” 23” 23” 8.5”
Mary 6 46” 22” 23” 8”
Miriam 8 52” 27” 29” 8”
Moses 8 50” 25” 29” 8”
Rahab 4 40” 22” 22” 6”
Books: We’d appreciate books to add to our library.
- Picture books
- Young adult books
- Books with a Kenyan theme are much appreciated – our kids can really relate to them.
- Books designed to help children learn to read would be very useful.
- Our children have requested Bibles to keep by their beds.
- We are still building our textbook sets – perhaps instead of bringing books, you would like to purchase some textbooks at local bookshops for our students.
Toys: We’re really low on toys. If you’d like to bring some, we suggest bringing sturdy toys that can withstand a lot of use! Some specific toy suggestions:
- Any sort of educational game
- Jump ropes
- Puzzles
- Food/cooking sets
- Clay/play dough
- Crafts
- Sports Equipment (soccer balls and air pumps!)
DVDs: During the evening, we have electricity powered by a generator. During “generator time” the kids sometimes watch movies. Our children have made a special request for people to bring and send them movies with “real people” – i.e., live action movies, as opposed to cartoons.
Requests from the Matrons: Our matrons have requested the following to help them care for our children:
- Sewing kit
- Plastic cups, plates, bowls, and utensils
- Large thermoses
- Flashlights (solar powered and/or electric flashlights preferred)
- Size D batteries
- Umbrellas
- Chewable vitamins
School Supplies: Help us build a better school.
- Phonics/letter flashcards
- Pens (blue, black, and red)
- Calculators
- Notebooks
- Construction and manila paper
- Stamp pads
- Globes
- World, African, and Kenyan maps
I am hesitant to do this but am going to anyway,... I have a "Bethany Wish List". I knew but didn't really know how much this adventure was going to cost. Surprise, surprise... I just jumped in.
Bug Spray
Pepto Bismo
Tums
One of those Safari hats with the back that drops down..LLBean has them.
Protein bars
GoreTex socks
Wet Ones -- my new shower
AAA batteries for my head lamp
Purell
It's getting close. I am getting nervous. I look up at the stars at night and know that when I am in Kenya, everyone here will be looking at the same stars. It's a much smaller world than I thought.
I lay in bed each morning surrounded by my cats and love them up minute by minute and am aware that I will be without them in the not so distant future. Punky sprawls across my chest and licks my face and tells me that he loves me back. Mazey cuddles alongside me and purrs as if life couldn't get any better. And for those three or four minutes each morning, I agree... Life can't get any better. And I cry.
I will be having an open house on Saturday, April 24 from 11-6. Friends and family are invited and welcome. It will be a packing, organizing, send off party.
Rock on....
