[Nursie222]

A friend of a friend adopted a child from Russia and she had told me that I should give the orphanage sneakers for the children as gifts. She said they were in desperate need of sneakers-all sizes. Just wanted to know if anyone has given sneakers as a gift for the children. I must say it is a very practical gift.

[waiter]

If you are talking about an orphanage donation it is usually done on trip two. I would wait until your first trip to see what your particular orphanage needs and what age range the children are. I do agree that giving shoes (not just sneakers) is a good idea. Where my child came from I would have made a similar comment to future PAP's. Downside is that shoes are heavy to carry in your luggage when you are trying to travel/pack light. You may want to watch for some on clearance and pick up a few pairs but I wouldn't buy a whole bunch until I was sure that was what your orphanage truly wanted.

[momofMikhail]

Our orphange wanted batteries for the kids toys, and diapers more than anything. I agree that you need to wait and ask on trip one what they really need before purchasing anything. We were told to get a gift for the director of the orphanage, and was given some ideas. It turned out when we went on the first trip she wanted something really simple (mugs from US) and we had already boughten her a really expensive gift. Luckly we were able to use the unwanted gift ourselves.

[votemom]

i have also heard different opinions on whether the russian people like sneakers for their kids. i read somewhere that they want them in harder (i.e. warmer?) leather shoes in the winter at least.

yes - wait and find out on trip one.

[momraine]

Sometimes you can also buy what they want there and not have to spend so much effort in trying to pack it. For ours they wanted tylonol and socks. At the time it was not so easy to get it there so we packed it, but those things were not too hard to pack.

[Kasey]

I agree, wait and see. Both times, ours wanted OTC meds, tylenol. Also hats and gloves were requested too. while we did take alot over with us, we also bought a bunch of stuff there as well.

[MichiAmy]

I was asked to do an orphange donation on the FIRST trip. This was suggested by my agency, and I had no problem with it. Especially now as I am a little nervous about taking the amount of things I have to on my second trip (which I am hoping is soon!).

It would have been nice to be able to ask what they needed for a donation. And actually I did in case there was something else they wanted, but I really didn't get a specific answer! LOL

I went to an outlet mall and hit the Carter's store before trip #1 - and tried to buy warm, fleecey Carter's outfits. I also bought lots of little toys that would be easier to pack.

[pwnort64]

I also was requested to bring my donations on trip #1 (back in 2004). I took a bit of everything...clothes, jammies, shoes, etc. My mom even made several flannel blankets.

We left our donations in the director's office and never got any acknowledgment or feedback on whether they were useful or not.

Overall, in the region where I was, I did not see a lot of Russians wearing sneakers. However, shoes did seem to be in demand. My son was wearing the kind that had a strap across the top everytime I visited him. And they were way too little for him.

[dlhall]

My son's orphanage requested snowsuits, so like the others said wait and see what they need.

Liz

[Nursie222]

Thanks so much for all the advice.