The Mennonite Central Committee is assembling relief kits to ship to Iraqi civilians to help stem any unnecessary refugee flight to the already overextended refugee camps in neighboring nations. As MCC Relief Manager John King stated in the Lancaster, PA, Intelligencer Journal this morning, "If we can provide them clean water, some food and basic hygiene items, and bombs aren't falling on them, the conditions would be more hospitable, and they might stay in their homes instead of moving many kilometers to live on a desert moonscape in a country where they aren't wanted."

The MCC will accept cash donations, but for those who wish to make more material contributions in less liquid form, the MCC is actively soliciting relief kits, to be delivered to MCC or one of its collection points by April 15.

This aid will not impede the military activities of the US or any of its allies.

Contents of one relief kit, placed in a cardboard box for ease of distribution:
*4 bars bath soap
*1 plastic bottle shampoo (13-24 oz., seal in plastic bag)
*10 cups powdered laundry detergent (double-bag in 1-gal. resealable bags)
*1 squeeze tube toothpaste (minimum 6 oz.)
*4 adult-size toothbrushes, left in packaging
*4 NEW bath towels, medium weight, NOT white
*1 each: hairbrush, wide-toothed comb, fingernail clipper
*1 box of adhesive bandages, minimum 40, assorted sizes
*1 package of sanitary pads (quantity 18-24; thin, maxi or ultrathin)

The MCC requests that they receive only complete kits and that the kits be limited to the listed items. Their cargo space is limited and they know the needs of refugees very well. They have other sources for items like blankets, etc.

For anyone seeking to involve children in a relief effort, this is an idea activity, because these are familiar and inexpensive items, easily gathered, but extremely valuable to the people who receive them. It provides opportunities for discussion as well as a chance for children to feel capable in the face of a crisis.

The MCC coordinates relief efforts around the world, regardless of religious or political orientation of the recipients. I have spoken about their very practical missionaries here before. Their objective is not to spread Christianity but to practice it.

The headquarters address for anyone who wishes to assemble and send a relief kit or kits is:

Mennonite Central Committee & MCC US
21 South 12th St.
PO Box 500
Akron PA 17501-0500

For more details, and for other pick-up points across the US and Canada, please visit www.mcc.org.

Thanks.

Regards--
Mary Anne

PS-- I'm sure the International Red Cross is also accepting donations. I mention the MCC here because I know personally that they are also highly-motivated and very effective at making sure that the suffering receive the intended aid.