Great! How Do I Know What to Send?

What a sponsor sends in a DP or an Online In-Country purchase is entirely up to them! In fact, that is part of the fun of sending a package instead of a monetary donation. There is no quick, easy way to find out what your family or child may need or want—Children International will not do an inquiry for these types of gifts. However, there are a some staple items that are well-received and appreciated by children in all of CI's countries:

-pens, pencils, crayons and markers
-coloring books

-age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction books
-scissors, construction paper, glitter, and other arts and crafts supplies
-powdered drink mixes like Crystal Light, Kool-Aid or Tang
-hair accessories and jewelery

-toothbrushes, hair brushes, nail clippers

-washcloths, bars of soap

-stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars

-educational books and flashcards
-a hand-cranked flashlight
-holiday items such as a Santa hat or bunny ears
-a small photo album to hold the photos you send over the years

To add a personal touch your package, consider first writing to your child. In your letter, you can ask such questions as, “What is your favorite color?” and, “Who is your favorite cartoon character?” In this way, you not only learn a bit more about your child, but also can then shop for items to match these likes.

If you want to send clothes, you can attempt to determine your child's size by comparing their height and weight on their family report to a size chart (I've had good luck with this one). It's not an exact science, though, and there's a chance the clothes you choose will not fit. They won't go to waste, though--our children and their families are generous with their blessings, and a family member or a neighbor will make good use of the outfit!

You may also include items for your child's family members. Extra hygiene supplies and school items are useful for siblings, while a pair of sturdy work gloves would be appreciated by a parent.

You should not send liquids, gels, or anything that could potentially break open and spill in transit. Additionally, some centers have items they will not accept for cultural reasons--Children International will inform you of any such restrictions when you request the mailing address.

DP Tips and Tricks

Based on their own experiences, Sponsors have offered the following advice to make shipping your package to your child as painless and inexpensive as possible:

Mail your gifts in a padded envelope instead of a box. It's less expensive, and (supposedly) less tempting to thieves. WalMart sells yellow padded envelopes in a variety of sizes, up to 14.5” x 19”. A lot of goodies can be stuffed into one of these envelopes, but be careful to keep your package under four pounds or you will have to pay for priority shipping (USPS).

Mark your packages as a gift and a charitable donation on the shipping paperwork, and attribute as low a value as possible to the items inside. This will theoretically discourage thieves and draw less attention in customs.

Don't shop in thrift stores! CI may not deliver used clothing to children. Here is an explanation from Debbie Spring, Senior Sponsor Services Representative:

“The reason the staff requests no used clothing is because we've received packages both here in KC and at the SOA's that is stained, torn, faded, sewn back together, unwashed, have bugs in the box, used undies, etc. - basically things that many people would not want their own children to wear, but feel that a child with limited clothing should be thankful to receive. And in theory, it does seem that a child with limited clothing would welcome ANY clothing item...but in reality, no child (poor or not) wants to wear clothing that is poor condition -- even if it's free. The majority of families we serve have a real sense of pride and want their children to look and feel their best - just like us. All of this being said, if you have clothing that has been worn once or twice, or is in excellent condition and looks, smells and feels new, I personally, don't think that anyone would be insulted to receive it. And would not raise any red flags with the staff or family, because most sponsors take the price tags off the clothes they send anyway.”

How To: Send a Direct Package (DP)

While sending a SNG is more efficient, many Sponsors enjoy shopping for gifts themselves and sending DPs to their child(ren). If you are interested in doing so, you will need to contact CI via either email or phone to request the address for your child's service center, to which the package will be mailed. CI will provide you with any country-specific instructions you need, as well as advise you on any local customs or prohibited items for your child. To protect the privacy of the child and the Sponsor, CI will not provide the family's home address.

You may ship your package using any carrier you prefer. Be aware that packages can be subject to customs screenings, and can incur additional fees while in transit. CI will contact you to pay for these fees before retrieving your package from the carrier, so be prepared for the possibility of both the extra cost and the delay involved. For this reason, some Sponsors prefer to ship via UPS, FedEx or a similar international carrier. It is more expensive, but those fees are handled directly with the carrier and delays are minimized.

There is always the risk of your package being lost or stolen during transit, and for this reason CI can accept no responsibility for packages that never reach the children.

You will receive a thank-you letter and photos of your child with the items you have sent. The follow-up report will also include an itemized list of the contents of your package.