BY AMBER WENDLING SMITH
I have experienced cheerful giving both while living in Jamaica and as the Stateside Sponsorship Coordinator. To give an unexpected gift and see faces react with gratitude fills the giver’s heart with much joy. I often get asked by sponsors about ways they can give or assist our children and their families beyond the monthly pledge amount. I feel blessed to work with our generous sponsors.
To celebrate our sponsored children’s birthdays, each month I send sponsors gift ideas and ask that the items be no larger than a gallon-size Ziplock. It is amazing to find that most sponsors enjoy giving beyond this amount. We limit the number/size of gifts to ensure that all the children receive evenly during the birthday celebration plus to ensure the safety of the children while traveling home.
However, for over a year, I have seen specific needs arise within our children and their families as well as within the elderly shut-ins AMI visits and wonder how we could connect the generosity of our sponsors and donors to meet specific needs we have as a ministry serving the community of St. Mary. One day, as I was purchasing a few items off my daughter’s middle school teacher’s Amazon Wishlist, the solution to our problem began formulating.
We are happy to announce the launch of our ACE Wishlist via Amazon. https://a.co/3h6VFIT
The list is composed of the most important items ACE is hoping to help meet within our community. We will also be adding to this list as needs arise. Each item has been prioritized and the sizes and or amounts needed are also listed. Once purchased through Amazon, the items will be shipped directly our ACE staff, placed in a barrel and shipped to Jamaica. If you aren’t a big shopper but would like to help, would you consider contributing towards the cost of shipping barrels? Each time ACE ships a barrel, it costs approximately $300-$350. This includes the cost of a barrel, shipping, and customs fees.
We realize the blessing found in giving and know that God loves seeing cheerful generosity. We are extremely grateful for those that will join ACE in our efforts to help meet necessities. If you have any questions about our Amazon Wishlist, please contact Amber Smith (amber@acexperience.org).
TRIP COST
There is an old proverb, “If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” History proves that lasting change in a poverty culture is achieved by empowering the people to reach their full potential and become self-sustaining. ACE is invested in our community long-term and in conjunction with our partners in the US, we are identifying the circumstances of those around us in order to find real solutions for their unique needs.