Mission Trip Donation Guidelines and Ideas

This resource is provided for teams partnering with Praying Pelican for their mission trip, but the general guidelines can be adapted to suit most any international mission trip.

Praying Pelican Missions’ desire is to not only build relationships with the local church but also to take part in the improvement of the local economy. Because of that, we desire to avoid flooding the local market by having teams donate items that could instead be purchased in-country. Below are examples of things that you could consider giving. Many of these items can be bought in-country before your group arrives. Please be in contact with your trip consultant as you specify what you would like to donate. If the items can be purchased from local vendors, your consultant will help you figure out how much money to send down beforehand to purchase these donations. Items in bold are of high need. 

Items That Can Be Purchased In Country

• Bibles in the local language
  
• School supplies (paper notebooks, pens, small pencil sharpeners, erasers, pencils, backpacks, child safety scissors, glue, etc.)
• Teacher supplies (pocket notebooks, folders, calculators, rulers, chalk, erasers, etc.)

Kit Ideas

• Back-to-School Kit - backpack, notebook, and pencils. School uniform and shoes can be included for an additional cost. Your partnership pastor will help identify children in his community that are in need of assistance with school supplies to receive a kit and then work with their parents to ensure the child gets the appropriate uniform and shoes that fit. 
  
• Bible Kit - A Bible (in the local language if needed), a notebook, marker, and a Bible case. Your partnership pastor will help identify people in his community in need of a Bible kit. 

Items that can be brought from North America:

• Crafts: construction paper, coloring books and crayons, string, pipe cleaners, stickers, etc.  Please remember to keep crafts simple and low cost. Any items left over from craft time can be donated to the local school or kids ministry program at church.
  
• School textiles: Any pre-made posters, crafting supplies, lessons, binders, lesson plans, classroom decorations and the like, are a welcome gift for teachers and classrooms at local schools. 
• Clothes: All sizes for children and adults (like-new condition), shorts, shirts, dresses, skirts, underwear (not used, still in packaging), shoes. We require all of these clothing donations to be like-new.
• Supplies for Sports & Kids Ministry: soccer balls (can also be purchased in-country), air pumps with extra needles, soccer nets, jump ropes, frisbees, american football, basketball, kites, bubbles, etc.
• Baby Supplies: baby lotion, hair shampoo and conditioner, baby powder, bottles, pacifiers, swaddle blankets, baby carriers or wraps, etc. 
• Hygiene items: shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste, body lotion
• Children's Vitamins 
• Medical Supplies: basics, Nand-Aids, Neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, betadine wipes, children’s Tylenol, alcohol wipes, sanitizing spray, gauze, athletic tape, Pepto tablets, etc. We cannot accept any prescription medications or expired medications.
• Books: Adult and children's books, English learning books or books in the local language, etc.
• Tools: The majority of the tools needed for your week of ministry are already available.  However, if you have tools that you would like to donate, items needed are: hammers, levels, tape measures, trowels, reciprocating saws, drills, masonry bits, pry bars, pliers, hacksaws, sheet metal screws, tin snips.  Most work will be done with cinder block, cement, and rebar.  You may or may not use the tools you bring all week, but they will be very useful as the work continues at the site if you are able to leave them.

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

All donations will be routed through the local pastor or ministry leader if you have further questions as to why this is how we organize donations, speak with your Praying Pelican consultant! Here’s to having a great mission trip and honoring Christ with our giving.