Mama Packs
Many churches participate in the Mali Project by sending Mama Packs . These are used at the hospital and in the field clinics. There are approximately 4000 births each year so the need will always be here.
Mama Packs should contain the following:
1 - T-Shirt or kimono or onesie
2 - Soft Cap
3 - Socks or Booties
4 - Receiving Blanket
These items should be folded as flat as possible and placed in a large zip-lock bag.
(We no longer include a diaper because many rural mothers would try to re-use the diapers. However, if you send the pack with a diaper we remove it and ship it separately to be used by the hospital staff for longer term treatment of babies.)
The baby items can be purchased, knitted or crocheted and even purchased at Garage Sales. We have used VERY gently used garage sale items. You must be very cautious about sending anything that has been stained, even if the stain has been removed. The heat from storing them inside the container and the Mali heat allow those stains to come right back to the surface.
JUNE 2011 -- IN ADDITION, WE CURRENTLY WE NEED EXTRA T-SHIRTS
Mama Packs should contain the following:
1 - T-Shirt or kimono or onesie
2 - Soft Cap
3 - Socks or Booties
4 - Receiving Blanket
These items should be folded as flat as possible and placed in a large zip-lock bag.
(We no longer include a diaper because many rural mothers would try to re-use the diapers. However, if you send the pack with a diaper we remove it and ship it separately to be used by the hospital staff for longer term treatment of babies.)
The baby items can be purchased, knitted or crocheted and even purchased at Garage Sales. We have used VERY gently used garage sale items. You must be very cautious about sending anything that has been stained, even if the stain has been removed. The heat from storing them inside the container and the Mali heat allow those stains to come right back to the surface.
JUNE 2011 -- IN ADDITION, WE CURRENTLY WE NEED EXTRA T-SHIRTS
FAQs about Mama Packs
Do the baby blankets have to be flannel?
The baby blankets can be flannel, quilted, crocheted, knitted, hand-made or store-bought. We have found that the best sizes range from 30” x 30” to 45” x 45”. They can be any weight. We have even sent baby quilts. If the temperature drops to 100 degrees or less, the Malians are cold. Larger blankets won’t fit into the zip-style bags, so we simply use the plastic grocery bags.
Do we have to send a complete Mama Pack?
No,many choose to knit booties or hats or they like to find onesies at garage sales. Some groups will send a case of gallon-sized zip-bags. We have a group of dedicated ladies who love to sit and put the mama packs together.
The baby blankets can be flannel, quilted, crocheted, knitted, hand-made or store-bought. We have found that the best sizes range from 30” x 30” to 45” x 45”. They can be any weight. We have even sent baby quilts. If the temperature drops to 100 degrees or less, the Malians are cold. Larger blankets won’t fit into the zip-style bags, so we simply use the plastic grocery bags.
Do we have to send a complete Mama Pack?
No,many choose to knit booties or hats or they like to find onesies at garage sales. Some groups will send a case of gallon-sized zip-bags. We have a group of dedicated ladies who love to sit and put the mama packs together.
