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See also: quilt and afghan project.

Show True American Spirit- Help Iraqi Babies!

Deadline is August 10, 2004.

Your donations of clothing, toys, or knitted or crochet squares can help impoverished babies and young children in Iraq. 

 I am collecting clothing, toys, blankets and other items to help young children in Iraq.  I am sending them Capt. Payne of the US Air Force to be distributed at orphanages, hospitals and poor schools in Iraq.  These children need everything.  For those of you who knit or crochet, I am making a ‘patchwork’ afghan of 10 inch knitted or crochet squares. 

In desperate need of:

  • Clean, neat and modest children’s clothing (dresses, skirts, pants, shirts, infant ‘onesies,’ socks, packaged socks and underwear, mittens, hats and booties) in sizes infant to 14
  • New toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • Packaged baby bar soap
  • Blankets- handmade fleece, quilts, afghans and receiving blankets

New toys like teddy bears, beanie babies or brown skinned dolls would also be a welcomed and cheering gift to these children.

Guidelines for donations

  • Everything must be new or handmade.  No used items accepted.
  • No used underwear, socks or toys will be accepted
  • No pictures of animals or people on anything
  • No short shorts, backless dresses, tube tops or halter tops.  Clothing must be very modest.   Girls: below knee skirts and dresses, sleeved shirts, high necklines.  Boys: below knee shorts, sleeves shirts in plain colors.  Avoid anything flashy in print or color.  No sleeveless shirts for either sex.  A few patterns/clothing styles that would be good for girls: 1 2 3 4
  • No writing on anything except packaging
  • No cultural icons like cartoon characters, the Easter bunny, Santa Claus, cowboys, etc
  • No patriotic themed donations can be accepted
  • No religious symbols of any kind
  • No violent or war themed toys
  • No Barbie
  • No breakable or that will melt
  • No liquids

Guidelines for squares

  • Squares must be 10 inches by 10 inches, fully blocked with ends woven in.
  • No granny squares or anything with holes.  If you can stick your finger through any part of the square, it cannot be used.
  • No knitted pictures of people or animals.  Flowers, leaves and designs are fine.
  • No squares using red, white and blue together.

More ideas, pictures of children receiving donations and information can be found at http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/iraqbabies.html


If you have nothing to donate but would like to help, donations for shipping costs would be greatly appreciated. I know it's going to cost more then 80.00 already.

Mail your donations and squares to me (in the US) or directly to Iraq (do not send squares to Iraq!!!) with the addresses listed in the above site.

Thank you!

Copy this page on to Word and make as many copies as you wish.  Ask if you can print it out and have a donation box for your church.

August 11:  Miriam sent 59 mini beanie babies and numerous children's toothbrushes for the Iraqi children.  Wow!  As you can see, I had to stand on a chair to take a picture of them all...they took up the entire dining room table.  These will make many, many children very happy!

July 21: Donations from church box.  Success!

We have: lots of toothpaste and toothbrushes.  Many receiving blankets and a whole collection of beanie babies.  Some really nice brand new shirts and outfits...6 pairs of handknit baby booties.  I am thrilled.

I'm not so thrilled with the 10 bags of dirty, torn, stained and unusable clothing I received.  I took them to the crisis pregnancy center, where they will be picked up by the Vietnam Vets.  I'm very sad that these church going Christians think it's okay to give Iraqi kids dirty garbage, or use me as a garage sale.  At any rate, it's taken care of and I have a huge box of good stuff going to Iraq.  I have made the flyer now say that no used clothing is acceptable.  I only got one item I could call 'gently used'- a purple jumper that looks as if it was worn once.

July 8: Success.

Izod/Hunter's Club shirts.  1.79 at Penny's

Dresses made with 1.00 a yard quilter's cotton. 

Baby shoes from TJ Maxx

Toys from a closing out Yum Yum Tree.  Blankets from K Mart, bought several months ago.

South Dakota baby hat. 

Everything ready to go!  The first box to Iraq will be shipped tomorrow.

Not shown: baby socks and booties donated from a neighbor, baby clothes and sweaters donated and shipped by a friend.