[jroc]

On which trip did you bring the gifts and donations to the orphange? It would seem logical to me that this would be on trip #2. That way we could see what the orphanage needed and get to know our facilitators a bit, but I'd hate to show up and have everyone think we were rude!

Thanks!

[cindyc]

We took donations both trips. The orphanages (and everyone who helps you along the way) will be grateful; they are very much in need.

As a practical matter, we just plain had more room in our luggage on trip one for donation. On trip two, especially if you are adopting a very young child, you'll probably find yourself taking a lot of "stuff" to be used in-country by your own child (clothes, sippy cups, toys and other things to keep him/her occupied on the plane, etc. etc.). We took all kinds of stuff like that and ended up donating a lot of stuff we found we couldn't use, like clothes that were too big and baby formula that upset our son's tummy. (We used our pre-teens' luggage for knitted hats we donated, using every little nook and cranny in every suitcase to get it all in. And may I add that vacuum bags are the greatest thing since sliced bread!)

Bon Voyage,
CindyC, Mom of Jack 4/05

[SingleMama2B]

Well, I took things for the children the first trip, and packed a few small pieces of the adults (incase I wanted to or was instructed to) for the first trip. I talk with the orphanage director and nurse the 1st trip (older child orphanage - 100 kids), and asked what they needed! They gave me a list immediately of medicines, bandages, thermometers (only had ONE for 100 kids), blood pressure machine, etc. I purchased all of this, since I had alittle time (day after court), and my driver took me to a few pharmacies, and medical supply place. I spent $150 USD, and got a blood pressure machine (latest and greatest), 14 thermometers, 2 huge shopping bags full of medicines, 36 rolls of Toilet Paper, and tons of bandages! They where very greatful for these. For the kids, I took craft supplies, school supplies, dolls, hats and scarves, and gloves (as I was there in Winter). I bascially was loaded for both trips!!!

Check with your agency, as they will know what your Region may think is appropriate. I adopted from the Moscow Region in Dec 04/Jan 05!

[jaw's mom]

I took presents on trip one, but they weren't needed until trip 2. I left the items that were edible with the orphanage (almond m&ms). The director gave them to the children while we were there. We were asked for a fairly large monetary donation by the orpahanage director on our last visit of trip one....which we gave.

I took presents back on trip 2. Some of the people we were told to bring gifts for wouldn't accept them. So, I really stressed over what to buy for really nothing. I did leave evrything I brought with me. I gave some to the people staffing the hotel where we stayed. I took a suitcase full of infant shoes with us to the orphanage. The director said that infant shoes were hard to find there.

For adoption #2, I'm not sure what I'm going to buy/bring yet. I probably won't take anything until trip 2 this time. We are going back to the same orphanage. At least I will be prepared for making a monetary donation this time!

[Kasey]

We did both trips, we took the majority of donations on the first trip, we took big duffle bags which we left with the orphanage as well.
We took more on the second trip after asking for specific needs.
We bought our gifts for the coordinators and in country staff on the second trip.

FYI, we took alot of OTC meds, we had the directions translated to accompany the products.

Your agency will also give you guidance in regars to this.

[SingleMama2B]

HI Kasey, I had taken donations for OTC Meds also. What I did find.... buying the meds, etc. there, was soooooo much cheaper (more for your money) then slepping the almost 5,000 miles I felt like I did something to really help the kids that winter!

[Kasey]

I would have done that as well, but I was working for a company at the time who makes alot of OTC stuff, so very easy and cheap for me to get, plus they did the translation.
Since no longer with them, I will probably do what you did, buy more stuff there, less distance to travel!!

[Chris3148]

We took donations on trip #1, more room in our luggage on that trip! We also took a few gifts for people we would only see on trip #1.

On trip #2 we brought gifts for everyone else (drivers, facilitators, translators, social worker, baby home director, and "mamas" in our childrens' groupa) and we bought fruit and small toys for the children in our childrens' groupa. Oh... and cake, tea, and coffee for the doctors and "mamas" who took care of our children for a year!

Hope that helps.

[hadams]

If you have stuff to bring to the orphanage, bring it on trip one, since you will have more room in your luggage then.

For the more personal gifts...we never handed them out until trip two. However, on trip one, we brought over small momento type gifts (boxes of a local chocolate) to hand out.

[PamelaC]

We took donations on both trips. Clothes, socks and hats the first trip. The director told us that they needed medicine, pedialyte and hand sanitizer (this was fun, one explored in air). I put everything in big ziploc bags. 2nd trip we got old bags, one for donations and one for gifts and left them at the orphanage. We did not have time to buy things there. We arrived on the 4th and left Moscow at 2:30a for a 5 hr van ride for court on the 5th and was back in Moscow with our daughter that night.

Pam

[GCS]

ask your agency about this too. Some dictate what to bring and when.

We adopted 2 children so brought 2xs the donations. 20 outfits each for a child the age you are adopting. We brought the clothes and a bunch of toys trip one and then came back trip two with specific items they needed. It sounds like a lot of clothes, but we shopped outlet stores and Kmart and Target and the clothes were so appreciated!

We really had to ask over and over what we could bring back with us. They were hestitant to tell us anything because they felt we had brought so much already. Also it is not in their nature to ask for things. We found out through our facilitator that our doctor needed thermonitors so we brought a few of those too. Some over the counter meds they used regularly and we bought diapers in country for them and gave them money for fresh fruit.

these are just some ideas.

Christina

[Traci Major]

We adopted from the Samara region. Our agency encouraged us to take our gifts the first trip, as we were adopting an 11 month old and would have alot of baby things we needed for our in country stay. So we took all of our gifts for everyone who helped us and for my daughters caregivers, doctor and director at the Baby Home on the first trip. We were also told by our agency and others who had adopted from our daughter's Baby Home that the director made very good use of cash donations. Remodeling the Baby Home with the donations and buying educational toys for the children, are a couple of things we saw that she had used the money for. So we gave a large cash donation on the first trip. To be truthful, this was also one less thing to worry about on trip #2. We also did not have the time or transportation to do shopping in Samara.

[jroc]

Ahh! See, I am so glad I asked you all. I will plan to bring some things then for trip #1...and I am sure I will bring more stuff for trip #2. Is it a good rule of thumb to bring 20 outfits like Christina said? I love to shop so I want to get a head start. And then maybe we'll plan to buy medicine while in Russia as it seems cheaper there.

DH and I have friends that want to throw us a baby shower. This will most like be between trip 1 and 2. We were considering asking our friends to bring donations for the orphanage instead of gifts for us. By that time, we'll hopefully know what the orphange really needs and we can bring them a stock pile of it!

Jen

[SingleMama2B]

Hi Jen.... Love your idea about the shower. Maybe have a basket (instead of a "wishing-well"), and that way, they could bring a little something for the orphanage, but they could also bring a gift for your child.

My sister threw me a "Mom-to-Be" shower. I adopted my daughter when she was 8.3 years old, so all of the really cool baby/toddler stuff did not apply. They also did this for me.... each gest brought a barbie, gloves, hat, scarf, toothpaste, tooth brushes, socks, toys, etc. for the kids at the orphanage, and mainly clothes, books, crayons, etc. for my daughter. A very welcome gift was... gift cards, as DD was very small for her age, and she really had to be there to try on the clothes.

Anyway..... I know that the guests at my shower really wanted to give to my daughter, but also wanted to do alittle something for the orphanage too.

Just another way to look at it