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When considering gifts or correspondence for your sponsored child, please keep the following in mind:
- The lead time on sending gifts, whether for birthday, Christmas or any other occasion, should be at least 3 months.
- Transportation to Guatemala: Never mail anything to our street address
here in Guatemala as it will probably never arrive. Also, keep in mind
that international mail must first go through customs. This will require
a staff member to drive to the city, wait in line for the package and
then pay duties on the contents. To determine the best shipping option
for your package, it is best to contact shipping@casaontherock.org or
our US office at 337.855.1286. The luxury of using ocean-going containers
may become a thing of the past if we are required to pay import taxes
on the contents. If this does occur, the only method of safe transport
will be in the luggage of others coming to visit Casa Aleluya.
- Individual items should be well marked and gift-wrapped. We greatly
appreciate your time spent gift-wrapping as it is a huge timesaver for
us. We do not necessarily need to see each item, though we do require
that a detailed inventory listing be included with your package. It
should be placed between the gift wrapped items and the outer wrapping
or box. Mark the exterior of the box clearly as to the intended recipient.
- Internal/gift wrapping should be secured with 2-inch clear or strapping
tape; external wrapping should use 2-inch strapping tape. Many times
we receive items that have gotten separated from their original wrapping
because of poor materials used. Masking tape and Scotch tape are not
reliable given the miles your package will travel, changes in temperature
and environment, and number of times handled.
- Packages do sometimes arrive that have been exposed to the elements
or the external wrapping has been torn; writing on the external packing(and
even on internal items) may have faded or become completely erased/removed.
You may consider placing all internal items inside a sturdy plastic
bag, which you then place inside the external wrapping/box. Always write
to/from names on a slip of paper and place inside each wrapped item.
This will help to insure that the item ends up with the intended recipient
and that the child will know who sent it.
- When labeling items, always use the child’s full name (first,
middle and last) and their number if they have one. Though referring
to a child as ‘Walter 4’ may sound institutional and cold
to you, it is very much needed in a household as big as ours. If you
do not have the child’s complete name, the information is available
on the website when you are signed in with your Mi Casa account, or
you can contact us by email to get this information.
- It is helpful if you will include your address inside at least one
of the gifts to insure that we have your current contact information.
The child will want to write and thank you. If you have a Mi Casa account,
this is not necessary as long as your mailing information is kept current
on your account.
- Cards should not be taped to the outside of the gift wrap as they are
likely to fall off. Wrap card inside the gift wrapping.
- Gift bags should never be used as items are likely to fall out or be
stolen. They are beautiful and decorative, though not very secure in
our environment.
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