Care Packages

Guidelines

Please know that we understand your desire to bless your sponsored family with a lot of items and we appreciate and love your hearts! However, because of the amount of families and the amount of travel these packages have to go through, we had to create some guidelines for weight and size.

The most important item in your care package is the letter from you and anything personal you can add to it. If you need help writing your letter, please let me know and I can give you ideas.

There is a limit of 2 care packages a year.

You may send cards/letters to us for the other trips.

2024 due dates

January 1

March 1

July 1

September 1

 If care packages do not arrive by due date they will be held until the next trip. 

 Instructions:

Needs to fit nicely in a gallon sized Ziploc bag that zips closed without the use of duct tape or rubber bands.
Please make sure there is a good seal (not overstuffed) so it won’t bust open in transit.
Nothing is to be taped to the outside of it.
Please mark your sponsored child’s name on the front of the bag (or on a card or paper inside that is visible)
Please include a card/letter or picture of your family. << most important part! 

Please send only new items.

Please remember…lightweight and non-bulky are the best items!!

If your bag is bulging or has to be taped shut to stay together then it is too full. These bags end up busting in transit and all intended items do not make it to your family! 

Thoughtful quality is better than quantity!

If bags are too heavy or are too bulky or include items not allowed we will have to take items out and donate them to our local mission so please follow these recommendations.

Care packages go over via suitcases that have a 50 pound weight limit and we have about 400 children. Our staff then has to haul them all to each place by bus and motorbike. 🙂 We understand the heart behind giving a lot but the realities of getting it there makes it hard.

No liquid items such as lotion, shampoo, toothpaste etc. as they leak out in transit and make a mess.

Do NOT include heavy items such as books or notebooks or whole bags of candy.
Do NOT include soap, deodorant or toothpaste or any other liquid items.

Do NOT include playing cards.

Do NOT include glow sticks of any kind.
Do NOT include money, your email, last name or your address in your card/letter.

The connection of love and your heart through letters and pictures are the most important items!

When you are finished mail them to:

Hawassa Hope

11 North Central Ave Suite 1

Staunton VA 24401

Too busy to put one together?

We can put one together for you for a donation of $15 per care package!  Just click on the button below to donate. Please be sure to still send us a letter to your child in either .doc or .pdf form and pictures in the document already for ease of printing. Email these to info@hawassahope.org

Donations need to be given by the trip’s due date. 

Need Ideas?

Teenagers

nice shirt

deflated soccer ball with pump

gum or hard candy

small flashlight

pencils and pens 

hair items for girls 

lightweight umbrella

lightweight bags/purse that can fit in gallon bag