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Patients at State hospitals and clinics in South Africa are typically destitute, malnourished, as well as being very sick or injured. Many are jobless, many are homeless, and many have no loved-ones to provide the basic needs for them in hospital.

Please, browse through the following list, I’m sure you will find a government hospital near you to support:

Monday 8 February 2016

THE RUTH MAILBAG GROUP: REPORT OF CLOSING MEETING HELD ON 6 FEBRUARY 2016

OUTREACHES

After discussion it was resolved that the conveners would independently continue with their work for the various outreaches, see below for contact persons:

Psychiatric Hospital at Bloemfontein – Doreen Brits at doreenbrits@worldonline.co.za
Ikhaya Lethu at Colenso – Gail Rozendaal at gail.rozendaal@gmail.com
Môrester Children’s Home – Judy Maccarone (telephone number on request)
Walton Street Clinic – Gil Richmond at richmort@telkomsa.net

GROUPS – Please continue to support these groups

Beanies And Blankets For Babies - We knit, crochet, sew and donate items to babies and moms in King Dinuzulu and Murchison Hospitals, KZN, larger sizes go to Creighton, southern Drakensberg

Bowlers 4 Babies – We aim to make up gift packs to give to the new mothers at the local Provincial hospitals.  Inspired by The Ruth Mailbag Group and Joy Coetzee

Amor Group works for the babies born at Steve Biko in Pretoria

Ten Thousand Blocks for Amor works for the Amor Group

Bertha Gxowa Hospital - Address for donations: Maternity Ward, Cnr. Angus & Joubert Street, Germiston.  Postal: Private Bag X1035, Germiston, 1400 South Africa.  Name of staff liaison person: Mrs N J Korong.  Telephone number of staff liaison person: (011) 089-8500 Ext 1244.  Fax: (011) 825-5425.  Email: Jeanette.Korong@gauteng.gov.za.  Needs: Kangaroo Abbas, vests, jerseys, booties, hats (prems and full term new-borns).  General: Receiving blankets.  Contact person is Alison Beattie at https://www.facebook.com/alliebt

Morag Macneill Van Deventer lives at Fordmouth, Baynesfield and works for various charities e.g. Nels Rust School, mums in Edendale Kangaroo Mother Care unit. Edendale Burns Unit (Burns Care Trust), Mahagu children, etc.  She calls her charity group, "Kuvela Orhandweni". Please visit her page at https://www.facebook.com/morag.m.vandeventer for more information.

SHARING
I have been asked to keep sharing posts from all the groups who belong to our network. The groups think that way they will still feel as though they are part of something bigger than just their own groups – https://www.facebook.com/The-Ruth-Mailbag-Group-153666104700531/

POSTAL INSTRUCTIONS - When posting items to the groups, please, follow these guidelines carefully –
ADDRESS LABEL CHANGE - the new message needs to read: BONA FIDE GIFT FOR CHARITY - NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. The label needs to be added to the front of the parcel. Please write a value of '0' or '1' at the most on the customs ticket.
POSTAL INSTRUCTIONS - CUSTOMS DUTY - VERY IMPORTANT: We would ask you to take special notice of these instructions to avoid unnecessary duty being paid on your parcels as they arrive in South Africa.
Please mark clearly: BONA FIDE GIFT FOR CHARITY - NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.
Please do not register your letters, parcels, packages or boxes.
Please do not give a monetary value on your parcels (or only the minimum amount as instructed by your post office).
Please do use your good old post office unless you do not have one; it has come to our attention that the customs paid to couriers is higher than that paid at the post office.
We have to pay minimal duty on most large parcels arriving. However even just a small monetary value on a parcel attracts far higher duties. Letters, parcels, packages and boxes continue to arrive safely in volumes without any registration or monetary values appended to them.
MOISTURE FREE: Wrap your crocheted, knitted and sewn items in a plastic bag, bubble wrap or buy postal bags with an inner plastic coating to keep them moisture proof. Tape your parcels well.
POSTAL ADDRESS: Please visit the group of your choice on Facebook for information.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Please add a note with your email address so that they may acknowledge your parcel.  Thank you in advance for your support!

Happy charity crafting!!!
Joy Coetzee – Founder
The Ruth Mailbag Group
Contact: Joy.coetzee@gmail.com

Fax 086 516 4618

Thursday 28 January 2016

NEWSLETTER 1 OF 2016

THE RUTH MAILBAG GROUP:  NEWSLETTER 1 OF 2016

Thank you to everyone who sent Christmas & Holiday greetings!  2015 was a very good year, but it flew by much too quickly and will always be remembered for the upheaval at the post office that came very close to crippling our work for the moms and babies.
A sincere thank you to everyone who sent donations to The Ruth Mailbag Group, your knitted, crocheted, bought and / or good quality second hand goodies were much appreciated.

THE END OF AN ERA!!!

I regret to advise that with great difficulty, much thought and prayer, I find it necessary to close The Ruth Mailbag Group. Our last meeting will be held on the 1st Saturday in February at which we will finalize outreaches, etc. Any stock will be channelled to local charities, every little item will find a good home and one where your item is much needed. Bless you all and thank you for your never ending support over thirteen and a half years.

GIFTING

Friday, 25 December 2015:  New security team, although they didn’t know me at all, they were very pleasant about obtaining permission for me to visit the moms and babies.  Once I had permission on the ward to visit the moms I asked if I may please visit the Christmas babies and their moms first, there were 4 Christmas babies!!!  Unfortunately I was unable to take photos; I did see a journalist interviewing the moms and so hope that I will be able to track down some photos later on.  Gifted soft toys to 30 babies and little IsiZulu Bibles to the moms, (thank you, to Mariska and the Gideon’s for this kind donation), the moms were delighted to receive something that was just for them.  One of the moms told me she could not read IsiZulu, and asked if I perhaps had an English Bible for her, I asked her to wait while I went back to the car where I always keep a Bible and gave her mine, she was stunned that I would give her my very own Bible but I assured her that I had another at home and she was welcome to have the one I had brought for her, she was very obviously delighted with her gift/s.  Found one mommy who looked helpless with a baby in one arm and a cup of tea in the other, so I offered to help her and took the cup from her to put on the cupboard next to her while she was busy with the baby, she asked if I was a nurse, the staff told her no, I’m the mother of the babies, because I visit a lot and give the babies presents…  Blessed hour spent on this Christmas day.  Staff very busy, friendly and helpful as always.

Sunday, 27 December 2015:  Routine visit today – Gifted 12 preemies and 19 newborn babies.  Mums delighted with their packs (2 sets each for the newborn babies and 1 each for the preemies).  When I got to the B & B there was a chorus of “what happened to you?”  I had to explain that my absence was to spend time with my family, and then Christmas wishes were called out all around.  Staff very busy, friendly and helpful.  Blessed visit with our moms and babies.  Thank you, one and all for your support!

Sunday, 17 January 2016:  Gifted 17 preemies and 16 newborn babies.  Mums delighted with their packs (2 sets each for the newborn babies and 1 each for the preemies).  Staff very busy, friendly and helpful.  Blessed visit with our moms and babies.  Thank you, one and all for making these visits and gifts possible!

Please Remember We Have Various Outreaches - Please contact the convenors and continue supporting their work –

Psychiatric Hospital at Bloemfontein – Doreen Brits at doreenbrits@worldonline.co.za
Ikhaya Lethu at Colenso – Gail Rozendaal at gail.rozendaal@gmail.com
Môrester Children’s Home – Judy Maccarone is your contact person (telephone number on request)
Walton Street Clinic, and The Child Welfare (Urmila Riga) – Gil Richmond at richmort@telkomsa.net

Groups That Share Our Interest in Helping Babies and Their Mommies – Please continue to support their work –

Beanies And Blankets For Babies - We knit, crochet, sew and donate items to babies and moms in King Dinuzulu and Murchison Hospitals, KZN, larger sizes go to Creighton, southern Drakensberg

Bowlers 4 Babies – We aim to make up gift packs to give to the new mothers at the local Provincial hospitals.  Inspired by The Ruth Mailbag Group and Joy Coetzee

Amor Group works for the babies born at Steve Biko in Pretoria

Ten Thousand Blocks for Amor works for the Amor Group

Bertha Gxowa Hospital - Address for donations: Maternity Ward, Cnr. Angus & Joubert Street, Germiston.  Postal: Private Bag X1035, Germiston, 1400 South Africa.  Name of staff liaison person: Mrs N J Korong.  Telephone number of staff liaison person: (011) 089-8500 Ext 1244.  Fax: (011) 825-5425.  Email: Jeanette.Korong@gauteng.gov.za.  Needs: Kangaroo Abbas, vests, jerseys, booties, hats (prems and full term new-borns).  General: Receiving blankets.  Contact person is Alison Beattie at https://www.facebook.com/alliebt.

Morag Macneill Van Deventer lives at Fordmouth, Baynesfield and works for various charities e.g. Nels Rust School, mums in Edendale Kangaroo Mother Care unit. Edendale Burns Unit (Burns Care Trust), Mahagu children, etc.  She calls her charity group, "Kuvela Orhandweni". Please visit her page at https://www.facebook.com/morag.m.vandeventer for more information.

I have been asked to keep sharing posts from all the groups who belong to our network. The groups think that way they will still feel as though they are part of something bigger than just their own groups – https://www.facebook.com/The-Ruth-Mailbag-Group-153666104700531/ .

POSTAL INSTRUCTION - Please continue to support the above groups, when posting items to them please follow these guidelines carefully –
ADDRESS LABEL CHANGE - the new message needs to read: BONA FIDE GIFT FOR CHARITY - NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. The label needs to be added to the front of the parcel. Please write a value of '0' or '1' at the most on the customs ticket.
POSTAL INSTRUCTIONS - CUSTOMS DUTY - VERY IMPORTANT: We would ask you to take special notice of these instructions to avoid unnecessary duty being paid on your parcels as they arrive in South Africa.
Please mark clearly: BONA FIDE GIFT FOR CHARITY - NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.
Please do not register your letters, parcels, packages or boxes.
Please do not give a monetary value on your parcels (or only the minimum amount as instructed by your post office).
Please do use your good old post office unless you do not have one; it has come to our attention that the customs paid to couriers is higher than that paid at the post office.
We have to pay minimal duty on most large parcels arriving. However even just a small monetary value on a parcel attracts far higher duties. Letters, parcels, packages and boxes continue to arrive safely in volumes without any registration or monetary values appended to them.
MOISTURE FREE: Wrap your crocheted, knitted and sewn items in a plastic bag, bubble wrap or buy postal bags with an inner plastic coating to keep them moisture proof. Tape your parcels well.
POSTAL ADDRESS: Please visit the group of your choice on Facebook for information.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Please add a note with your email address so that they may acknowledge your parcel.  Thank you in advance for your support!

Happy charity crafting!!!
Joy Coetzee – Founder
The Ruth Mailbag Group

Contact: Joy.coetzee@gmail.com

Fax 086 516 4618