Global Ministries often fields inquiries from churches interested in gathering and sending items to global partners around the world. Most of the time, sending materials is problematic, costing more than the items are worth in shipping and in customs fees. Financial gifts are the most helpful way to assist global partner churches and programs, because financial gifts allow the partners to purchase what they most need.
There are, however, a few partner programs that are able to accept material shipments. Each of the partner programs listed below has specific requests and shipping instructions. Please contact Global Ministries Resource Development Office at gifts@dom.disciples.org or 317-713-2555 for more details and for packing instructions and shipping addresses.
Church Resources for Poland – International Shipping Rates Apply
In-kind donations are helpful to the ministries of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland. Doug and Elizabeth Searles, Global Ministries missionaries to Poland, have provided the following list of items for collecting and shipping:
- Copies of a favorite anthem or song your choir sang in worship recently
- Easy good arrangements for organ preludes, offertories, postludes
- Copies of the Bible in Today's English Version, which is a good version for non-native English speakers in ESL Bible Study
- A few copies of "The Message" (the Peterson translation) for gifts to pastors
- Photos of your church sanctuary, preferably with people in the photo
- Photos of banners you use in your church
- Gently used banners (please send photo first to make sure it can be used) to brighten churches
Kalauman Development Center (Philippines) – International Shipping Rates Apply
The Kalauman Development Center in the Philippines can receive packages without an expense to them of customs fees. Please note that the shipping address is in the Philippines so international shipping charges will apply. Suggested materials for children include the following:
- Pencils
- Rulers
- Colored pencils
- Ballpoint pens
- Writing tablets
- Coloring books
- Puzzles
- White paper
- Colored paper
- Markers
- Erasers
- Small toys for young children
- New or gently used storybooks with lots of pictures and few words
Armenian Missionary Association of America – Materials to Ship to New Jersey
The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) is the missionary arm of the Armenian Evangelical churches worldwide. The Global Ministries Child Sponsorship program works with the AMAA to match children with sponsors. The AMAA has expressed a need for the following items:
- New or gently used clothing for children and their families
- Hygiene products (please remember liquids may not transport well)
- Pens, pencils, and other school supplies
- Love Kits for individuals children containing the following: Crayons, Pencils, Rulers, Colored pencils, Ballpoint pens, Writing tablets, Coloring books, Puzzles, White paper, Colored paper, Markers, Erasers, Small toys for young children, and new or gently used storybooks with lots of pictures and few words
All materials are to be shipped in 20" or 40" containers to the AMAA offices in New Jersey where they will be joined with other contributions and sent to Armenia. The container size is a very important detail in enabling that AMAA to transport the materials to Armenia.
Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries (SWGSM) and Casa Bethel – Mailing materials to Texas
Supported by SWGSM, Casa Bethel is a residential safe haven for children in need in Matamoros, Mexico. The Global Ministries Child Sponsorship program works with Casa Bethel to match children with sponsors. They can use the following items:
Church World Service Kits used in the U.S. and around the World
Global Ministries, One Great Hour of Sharing (UCC), and Week of Compassion (CCDOC) are in partnership with Church World Service (CWS) in a variety of ways. One way in which churches often work with CWS is through assembling and sending School Kits, Hygiene Kits, Baby Kits, and/or Emergency Clean-up Buckets. For details on what to include, where to send, and approximate shipping cost, call CWS at 1-888-297-2767 or check out http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_main.
