On 30th April a Shipping container will be going to Lesthoto taking with it the gifts and prayers of Mothers Union branches from all over Kent..

The container is not full yet and so the opportunity exists for you to contribute to the load. Go to your local market, pound shop or even a charity shop and spend a fiver on anything you see in the list below. (Most supermarkets have an 'Own Brand' at reasonable prices as well).

M.U. Merchandise – second hand or new badges, stationery, t-shirts (large), stamper sets, bags , tabbards etc
( actually they would love anything that has an MU logo on it) Blankets, Bedding, Towels & Curtains (all clean and in good condition)
Shoes for Men, Women and Children including Wellington Boots – NO HIGH HEELS (must be in good condition)
Sewing – Material, Cottons, Needles, Pins, Zips, Buttons, Tape etc Knitting Wool & Needles Coned Wool for Knitting Machines
Candles (domestic), Nightlights, Matches, Wind Up Torches (Wilkinsons are good value for these)
Bandages, Dressings, Plasters & Paracetamol (NO OTHER DRUGS) Crutches, Walking Sticks (NO ZIMMER FRAMES)
Large Cooking Pots, Plates, Cups, Cutlery (all unbreakable)
Tools – Forks, Spades, Carpentry, Nails, Shears, Trowels etc
Stationery for Schools – Pencils, Pens, Exercise Books, Paper, Scissors, Erasers, Sharpeners, Rulers, Geometry Sets, Compasses, Pencil Cases, Coloured Pencils, Crayons, Paints and Paintbrushes, Chalks & Blackboard Paint or Small Blackboards etc
Food – Rice, Pasta, Packet Soups (WITHOUT CROUTONS), Sugar, Salt, Powdered Milk, Tinned Food, Cooking Oil (ALL THE ABOVE MUST HAVE AT LEAST 6 MONTHS SHELF LIFE)
Soap, Flannels, Sponges, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Nailbrushes, Combs, Mirrors, Hairbrushes, Scissors
Footballs (deflated), Balls, Skipping Ropes Teddies for Tragedy (given to orphans) New Knitted Tops, Hats, Blankets etc (any size)
Repair Kits & Pumps for Bicycles (NO ACTUAL BIKES PLEASE)
Suitcases (blankets can be packed in these, to keep them dry etc) Sports holdalls etc.
Bishop Adam has emailed us this week with an appeal for some good second hand cassocks for his 29 parishes as those they are wearing are threadbare. Can anyone help with these or know someone who can?
If anyone has some stacking chairs in good condition, please phone Operation Sunshine on 01303 251596 before taking these, as Operation Sunshine can only store a small amount for each container. When phoning state they are for the Lesotho container. Any chairs would have to be delivered directly to the Operation Sunshine HQ at Capel-le-Ferne as we cannot pick them up and/or store them.

Then contact your MU branch leader for details on how you can get your gift to the container.
Note to Branch Organisers:Please box or put all the same items together (DO NOT MIX ITEMS) as this is important with regard to customs /shipping regulations and when loading the goods onto the container. Each box etc must be clearly labelled LESOTHO along with a list of contents on the outside.

Please let us know if you are going to deliver goods straight to Operation Sunshine’s H.Q at Capel-le-Ferne, along with how many boxes etc and roughly what they contain, so we can keep track on what is at Operation Sunshine and what else we need to provide.
Goods can only be taken to Capel-le-Ferne on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
Do not visit on any other day. They can be contacted at Capel on 01303 251596.
Otherwise, goods can be delivered to us or you can contact us for your nearest Operation Sunshine representative. Our number is 01622 761968.

The cost of the container going to Lesotho is going to be approx £5,000. If anyone wishes to make a donation towards that cost, please send cheques made payable to ‘Operation Sunshine’ to Mrs Deirdre Coombs, 89 Grasmere Gardens , Folkestone , Kent CT19 5JL .