HawthorneVillager.com

There are so many worthy causes - this I know. I'm going to ask all of you to think of one more.....

This past weekend I was sorting DD's clothes, making a pile to give away and our nanny came into the room and started to help me. She has been with us for 8 months now and she is like a member of our family. After a little while, she hesitated and then said, "you know, I'm embarrassed to ask but since you're giving these away could I take them to send back home to my family?" She is from the Philippines. Right now she is putting together a box to send home so that they have it in time for X-Mas. Now I was embarassed for not thinking of offering in the first place. She sends money home every chance she gets and she has been buying things her family, who are rural farmers, that they just don't have access to....things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, bars of soap etc.

We got to talking. Now, my husband and I knew her family was poor. This past weekend we found out how poor. It was embarrassing for her to tell us - this was plain to see as she talked and held back the tears. That did it. I really can't explain how much it bothered me to know that her family wants for what we call/consider the basic necessaties. It bothered me even more hearing about the kids and the babies. So I asked her what kind of stuff she wanted to send home for X-Mas and then I told her to go get one more box - that DH and I were going to fill it for her and send to her family for X-Mas.

But this is just one box and just once a year and I want to do more. So so much more.

So this is where I'm going to start. The next time you are out shopping, if you happen to think of this post and are able to get, even just one item, could you throw in your cart or basket an extra:

tube of toothpaste
toothbrush
bar of soap (like Ivory)
pasta (this is a huge treat for them, many families only eat this when it's a special occasion)
can of pasta sauce
canned vegetables
canned fruit
peanut butter
instant coffee
powdered milk
infant rice cereal
infant formula
folic acid
pre-natal vitamins (there is no pre-natal care!!!)
tylenol
infant tylenol
seeds (vegetable - eggplant and okra are popular or any type)
sugar
flour
spices - salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic salt, ground ginger, curry powder
pancake mix (add water only ones please)

This is all I can think of off the top of my head. Please, NO mixes that require baking.....most don't have an oven.

These were some of the things on her wish list. Do you have a nanny like me? If you do, I'm challenging you to just one item. You can do it!!! Please, if you could help me get this going. I'm dreaming big here people. I'm hoping I have such an overwhelming response that I'm able to help a few more nanny's families and keep this going on some type of regular basis - not just Christmas!

If you've got an item you would like to donate - PM me your address and I will drop by to pick it up.

Thank you so much in advance!

Leigh Smith
paulandleigh@sympatico.ca

I will speak with my wife but we will contribute to this worthy cause.

Please PM me where we can drop off some items

Thanks

You are an angel...and don't be embarassed. We sometimes forget how fortunate we are and that's ok. Please PM where I too can drop off some of the mentioned items.

There is a Filipino store on Bronte just south of Main. They sell the boxes used for packing at $10 a piece. The girls pack them with a much as they can. It is a flat fee of $75 to $90, depending on location to send it - no matter what the weight of the box is. It goes by seafreighter so it takes appox. 3 months to get there.

I am hoping to fill the boxes for some of these girls. All they will have to do is cover the cost of shipping to their families.

Thank you again to everyone who is able to help!

Leigh

Have you checked your local Rotary Club?

They often have different programs like this to help in different parts of the World. I Know that North Burlington Rotary has a program that ships gently used children clothing to poor parts of Mexico. It is free to you, they will ship it. They also have a shoebox program for the children. You are to fit as much things in the shoe box for a poor child in Mexico. I think they do this for first day of school and maybe for Christmas. If anyone wants more info I get get more details if you pm me.

Well, speaking for what I know my nanny does....she sends as much money home as she can whenever she can. It is still not enough. They (including the babies) are still sleeping on dirt floors, have no electricity, have no running water, are lucky if they eat one meal a day, improvise for things like baby cereal by grinding rice and adding yellow, hand pumped water to it which doesn't sound very nutritious. Kids are done school by grade 6.

I had a wonderful lady leave a box on my porch yesterday. Do you want to know what my nanny was thrilled with? Baby shampoo and baby oil. Yes, they can get this but they won't. Way too expensive. It is a luxury item that they would have to go into the city to get.

Many of these girls come here to support their entire family. For some it means leaving their own children behind to do this. I can't even imagine. I have someone who is living in my home, looking after my children and while it is her job, the enormity of what she is doing doesn't go un-noticed. She can walk into a kitchen with running water, open the fridge or cupboard and eat and drink whatever she wants, whenever she wants. Trust me, this weighs heavy on them.

I see what you're saying about the money....I'm just trying to give some of these girls a little break. After all, they're living here, living with us and looking after our families. My nanny is paying the shipping, yes, but when I tell you that box has at least $500 worth of stuff in it, I'm not kidding. Some she bought, some I bought. $500 to these girls is a BIG deal. I'm doing up another box for one of her friends, also a nanny, comes from a dirt poor background and will never have that kind of money to send things back home to her family. She is ill and all her extra $$$ buys her medication (no drug plan).

I hope this explains where I'm coming from a little. It makes them quite proud to be able to send these care packages home to their families.

If you are in a position to help them, it is more than appreciated if you do!

Thanks,

Leigh

You are an angel for helping,
as any little bit goes a long way. Everything you said about the filipina nannies are true! Giving/donating money instead of gifts will be just as appreciated, just that the sense of pride or shame usually gets in the way of asking. I have several packages already packed and ready to be sent to my relatives in the Philippines (for Xmas) but just noticed two extra garbage bags full of new clothes with and without tags (roughly 3 balik-bayan boxes). If you or your nanny are willing to pay for the shipping to Philippines...they`re yours! My email is: chris.atienza@hotmail.com

Very happy to find out about a filipino store in Milton, to get my "pandesal" when I move in!

Hi,
Sometimes we need little reminders to realize how truly fortunate we are.
We will be in the area on the weekend to check out our dirt pile (moving to Milton in June!) in the Escarpment area and we would love to drop off some things. Please PM your address.
Thanks

_________________
Tina & Hernan

PM me your address. I should be in the area to see my dirt pile this weekend.

Leigh,

We will of course drop some stuff off too! When do you need it by?

Daniel, Susan, Sam and Kate!

_________________
http://miltonium.myminicity.com/

I keep sayin' it....I've got the best neighbors in the world!

Leigh,

I'm definitely going to go through my cupboards to see what I can donate.

Would you also accept toys for the babies/children? My son has outgrown a lot of toys that I would love to donate to unfortunate children.

btw, Great job!

Lynda

I was overseas with the Military. You would be amazed what a dollar store box of crayons, a toothbrush, and a coloring book meant to these people.

It feels nice giving doesn't it? Especially when you know where it is going and indirectly know who is benefiting from it.

Regards,
Matt