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HISTORY
Hearts and Hands for Humanity is a non-profit organization started by Caren Bagley, in 1998. She began this project after viewing a report telling about Honduran newborns being sent home from the hospital wrapped in newspaper because they had no blankets after the severe flooding that had devastated the country. So she decided to do something about it. The organizations initial purpose was to assemble hygiene kits, newborn kits, and quilts for the LDS Humanitarian Sort Center, an internationally recognized and respected giving agency. The reason the charity works with this Center is because 100% of all donations are distributed to over 150 countries worldwide each month. The Humanitarian Center has partnered with hundreds of other giving agency around the world who assist in distributing these goods. Shortly after the September 11th incident, 380,000 tons of blankets and supplies were shipped to Afghanistan. 100 of those blankets were provided through funds collected from various individuals and corporations. Ironically, when Caren dropped these blankets off at the Humanitarian Center she noticed that the tag on the quilts said made in New York. This is only one example of the tremendous work being accomplished throughout the world on a monthly basis.
Since then Hearts and Hands for Humanity has partnered with several other giving organizations to complete many other projects. Some of these organizations include: The Roseann Gunther Manufacturing Group, Mother's Without Borders, the LDS Foundation, and the Simon Says Hope Foundation. Roseann Gunther and Caren Bagley's group handle manufacturing of 10's of 1000's of various supplies, newborn kits, hygiene kits, safe birth kits, school kits, and much more each year. 100% of the items and funds donated are used to complete the various projects we undertake. All of these projects are completed by volunteers and are shipped worldwide.
Additional Information About Us
There is a wide range of charities included in this effort. There needs and projects range from large to small. The following is a list of a few of the charities involved:
Hearts and Hands Chapter 1
Hearts and Hands for Humanity was founded by Caren Bagley. She was introduced to humanitarian work five years ago when she was watching the news about how the flooding in Honduras had devastated the country. She learned that baby's were being sent home from the hospital wrapped in newspaper because they had no blankets. She immediately went into action and began making newborn kits and quilts. She and her small group of grandmothers have donated hundreds of newborn kits, hygiene kits, and school kits over the past 5 years to the LDS Humanitarian Center. This center ships these items to various locations throughout the world by working with over 100 charitable organizations. She has also begun working with Jerry and Ella Simons from the Simon Says Foundation. They are building schools in Peru and have been doing incredible work in South America for the past 35 years.
Rose Ann Gunther Group
Rose Ann Gunther and her group of volunteers have been doing humanitarian work for the past 13 years. Rose Ann manages much of the manufacturing for many small charities. During 2003 alone her group manufactured 65,000 school kits, newborn kits, and hygiene kits. That does not include the 28 pallets of surgical equipment that was cleaned and donated along with the several items of clothing, toys, and various other supplies that were collected and donated to various projects worldwide. An approximate 50,000 has already been completed between January and June of 2004. Amazingly, her group only meets one day a week, on Wednesday, from about 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Each school kit bag, diaper, receiving blanket, eraser, infant nightgowns and any other items that are manufactured are individually cut out and sewn to reduce cost. Then each kit is assembled and packaged for shipping. It is amazing what gets done. A couple weeks before Christmas 3200 hygiene kits were assembled with 30 volunteers in about five hours. Three weeks earlier 6000 kits were assembled with 100 volunteers in about the same amount of time. An additional 2200 safe birth kits were also manufactured and shipped earlier this year. One of the items included in the safe birth kit is a 6 foot piece of plastic so these women can have their babies on something other than the dirt.
Mothers Without Borders
Mothers Without Borders was founded by Kathy Headlee. She has diligently been working on her project for 11 years and has also accomplished incredible tasks. Kathy manages much of the distribution for many small charities. Her focus right now is in Zambia. She is buying 25 acre lots to build schools and other facilities to educate and provide for the thousands of children that have been orphaned by AIDS. Additional information can be found on her website at www.motherswithoutborders.org.
Simon Says Foundation Hope Projects
Simon Says was organized in 1967 by Dr. Jerry Simons. He wanted to provide assistance for those in need and willing to help themselves. The organization has provided such people sewing machines, building materials for schools, engineering help, medical clinics, farm animals, clean water systems, and green houses. In 1999 Dr. Simons established Hope Projects as the delivery system of the foundations humanitarian work and shifted attention to the people of the high Andes of South America. These people of Peru are extremely motivated and committed to helping themselves. He found 21 forgotten villages in this area and provides material, engineering, and greatly needed supplies for those most destitute and in need. The foundation provides the financial support and the Peruvian people provide the labor. This group provides opportunities to assist in every thing from a flock of chickens for $30.00, providing water systems and medical clinics for $500, libraries for $800, enables people to build entire villages for only $2,500. Additional information about these projects can be found at www.hopeprojects.net.
