DIGNITY BAGS FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Watch the video to see why it is so important to send dignity bags for orphans and vulnerable children in Syria.
FEBRUARY 2022 APPEAL, SYRIA
We would love to give one of these bags to all 350 vulnerable orphans served by our outreach centres in Syria. If we collect more, we hope to give some to other vulnerable children in need in Syria. Our team are already connected with another 200 very poor children, but there are a huge number of additional children in the surrounding areas who are also in great need.
If you plan to collect these bags or the items to fill these bags from other people, please fill out our REGISTRATION application form first as we need to know who is doing what and where.
Each bag should be filled with NEW, unused items aimed at either a boy or girl of a specific age group. We hope these will be balanced through the age groups from 4-18 years for both boys and girls. We serve more children from age six upwards. If you plan to collect bags in your church, school or community, or hope to make up more than one, please aim for different age groups, and pack the bags into BANANA BOXES before delivering. One banana box will fit two dignity bags which include the coat and shoes.
Try to choose bright and cheerful colours and styles. Younger Syrian children love pretty and themed items such as Spiderman, Frozen, Disney etc. while the older children are fashion conscious, as most teenagers are the world over.
REGISTER as a collector if you plan to collect any items from other people. If you are simply filling a bag(s) yourself please go to step 2.
CHOOSE the age and gender you are buying for
BUY everything on the list for the gender & age – CUTOMS REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT EVERYTHING IS NEW.
PACK contents into an UNUSED, re-usable, fold away fabric shopping bag (at least 40x55cm for younger children or larger for older children - they need to fit a coat, shoes, towel, pants, socks and toiletries).
CHECK that you have packed every item. Do not leave anything out or pack anything not on the list. Children are easily disappointed if their neighbour receives something they don’t.
PACK coats and shoes at the top of the bag so our team in Syria can give the right size shoes to each child.
TIE a luggage tag or label around the top of the bag handles to stop the contents from falling out. We need to open and check every bag then retie it so please tie a bow (not knot).
WRITE on the luggage tag either “GIRL” or “BOY” followed by the age ie “AGE 8” or “AGE 5”.
BOX the bags into a BANANA BOX (1 - 2 bags per box). These are free from independent greengrocers and some larger supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. We need as many banana boxes as we can get, so please feel free to bring extra empty boxes.
DONATE £2 per dignity bag towards shipping costs or £4 per banana box. HERE to our General and Transport Fund.
DELIVER. If posting aim for before 21st February to Samara’s Aid Appeal c/o St Cuthman’s Church, Whitehawk Road, Brighton, BN2 5HE (delivery note to leave at vicarage if no one at church). If delivering your bag or bringing a collection of a number of bags you can deliver these to:
· Harrogate area (N Yorkshire) on 24th February 10am-1pm only
· Hinkley (Leicestershire) on Tuesday 22nd February 10am-1pm only
· Brighton (East Sussex) - February 1st, 8th, 15th, 19th and 21st
· Cucklington (Somerset) between now and 20th February by appointment
ALTERNATIVELY
You can donate money to buy the items so someone here can do it for you. The average dignity bag will cost around £40-100, depending on age/gender (older kids/girls will be at the higher end) including a coat and shoes. You can donate through our SUPPORT page with reference “DIGNITY” to our General and Transport Fund. We would also be grateful for donations towards our shipping costs to Syria to the same fund.
Watch video which explains in detail how to fill a dignity bag. It answers many of the frequently asked questions.
EXAMPLES OF FOLDAWAY SHOPPING BAGS
This is the ideal size and shape foldaway bag. Try to find one that is at least 40-50cm x 40-60cm or you will struggle to fit everything in, especially for the older children. There are lots on Amazon, and they can be bought cheaply in shops like Decathlon who do one that is a good size for around £1 at the checkout.
The idea is that the bag itself is also a small gift which will be useful afterwards and which can be put in people’s pockets. There should be large ideally around 40-50cm x 40-60cm. Here are a few examples:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BFW2KWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_9KEDYSE3N7123E7WXS1J
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08K2RXCFB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_BD0WTWZN9BZ0K470ZEEF