These service project guidelines are used to help volunteers produce items that Humanitarian Services can distribute to needy people throughout the world. The guidelines help ensure the usefulness and durability of donated materials. These 2006 guidelines replace all previous guidelines and instructions.

To ensure that your efforts have the greatest value and meet the changing needs of people throughout the world, please call the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center at (801) 240-5954 or e-mail HumanitarianCenter@ldschurch.org before beginning your project. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Guidelines may also be found on the Internet at...

www.providentliving.org
www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/welfare

Completed items may be shipped or delivered in person to:

Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center
1665 South Bennett Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Telephone: (801) 240-5954
Hours: 8 a.m. — 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

Completed items may also be taken to the nearest bishops’ storehouse or Deseret Industries store. Seal boxes and mark them Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center-SLC. They will then be shipped to the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center. Locations of bishops’ storehouses and Deseret Industries stores may be found by calling (801) 240-5954.

Some Deseret Industries stores have a Humanitarian Service Room where volunteers may learn more about humanitarian service projects and have opportunities to serve. Locations of Humanitarian Service Rooms may be found by calling (801) 240-5954 or online at www.providentliving.org.

To learn about cash donations, wills and trusts, donating property, or stocks and bond, click here.

Hygiene Kit
• 2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)
• 4 toothbrushes (packaged)
• 1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 ounces, no pumps)
• 2 bars of soap (approximately 3.5-5 ounces)
• 2 hand towels (see hand towel guidelines below)

Place items in a heavy-duty, one-gallon sealable bag. Remove the air before sealing.

Hand Towels (for Hygiene Kit)
Use new 15-inch by 25-inch hand towels. Please do not use dish towels or washcloths.

Hand towels may also be sewn. To sew towels, use terry cloth to make 15-inch by 25-inch hand towels. Serge or zigzag edges securely to prevent fraying.

Quilts
Sizes: All sizes are approximate; crib: 45" x 60", single: 72" x 90", double 90" x 96"

Use preshrunk, durable fabrics. To tie the quilts, use acrylic yarn, number 10 knit Cro-sheen™, or similar strong thread. Tie with a square knot or international stitch; make ties 3 to 4 inches apart.

Newborn Kit
• 1 double receiving blanket (see receiving blanket guidelines below)
• 4 flat fold (single thickness) cloth diapers - Birdseye Cloth or diaper flannel (100% cotton for both), approx. 25" x 27" (please do not use pre-folded or diposable diapers)
• 4 diaper safety pins
• 1 pair booties or baby socks
• 2 regular-size bars of soap (Ivory™ or other non-allergenic brand)
• 1 newborn layette gown (not footed sleeper - see layette gown guidelines, below)

Place items in a heavy-duty, two-gallon sealable bag. Remove the air before sealing.

Double Receiving Blanket (for Newborn Kit)
Fabrics: cotton flannel, or light weight fleece
Size: two pieces of fabric that are each between 36 inches square and 45 inches square.

To make the blanket:

• With right sides facing each other, sew the two pieces of fabric together with a 1/4-inch seam around the edges. Leave a 6-inch opening.
• Turn so right side is out.
• You may also serge two pieces together, no turning needed.
• Baste opening edges and topstitch around the entire blanket for durability.
• Sew a 10-inch square in the center to keep the fabric from shifting.
• A narrow crocheted edge or piping border is acceptable but not required.
You may also use a medium weight fleece. It needs to be a single layer, between 36 inches and 45 inches with the edges serged.

Layette Gown (for Newborn Kit)
Patterns for layette gowns are available at the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center and Humanitarian Service Rooms, or you can print it from here.

Size: newborn to 6 months

Fabrics: cotton knit

Children's New Clothing
Suggested items: Boys' and girls' clothing, including pants, shorts, skirts, shirts, blouses, pajamas, dresses, and underclothing in sizes 2–14 years. Please send clothing made of durable, washable fabrics.

Note: Girls in many countries wear only dresses. Simple, colorful dresses are easy to sew. Boy's pants and shirts are welcome.

Sizes: 2-14 years

Fabrics: durable and washable. Heavy polyester is excellent for boys pants and girls jumpers.

Use simple patterns. Double-stitch crotch seams, armhole seams, pockets, etc. Zig-zag or serge all edges.

Guidelines for Sewn, Crocheted and Knitted Items
• Keep items simple and practical.
• Use durable, washable fabric.
• Sew clothing closures very securely.
• Catch-stitch or safety-pin together each finished pair of mittens, slippers, booties and all other items that belong together.
• Do not use buttons for eyes on knitted or crocheted toys.
• If Velcro™ is used, cut into round or oval pieces.
• If you are making knit hats, please ensure that they are large enough for the children/adults head.

Other Needed Items
• Infant undershirts
• Knitted and crocheted sweaters
• Flat crib sheets 42 inches by 72 inches
• Children's pajamas (knit, flannel or cotton)
• Toys: Please request separate guidelines. Patterns are available at the Humanitarian Center.

School Kit
• 4 pencils (unsharpened)
• 1 box pre-sharpened or unsharpened assorted colored pencils (approx. 7” long, approx. 12 pencils/box)
• 1 pencil sharpener
• 1 rubber pencil eraser (approx 1" x 2") • 1 straight edge ruler - 12 inches, with metric • 1 pair of blunt-nosed scissors (metal blades)
• Glued or spiral bound notebooks or letter size legal pads, with lined sheets. Include enough notebooks/pads to total approximately 450 sheets (Please do not include more than 6 notebooks/pads). Sheet sizes 8 1/2" x 11", 8" x 10 1/2", 8 1/2" x 11 3/4" are acceptable.
• 1 durable cloth bag made of heavy fabric, (See cloth bag guidelines below)

Place items inside the cloth bag.

Cloth Bag (for School Kit)
• Cut two pieces of fabric for bag 14"x 18", Cut 2 handles 24"x 3.5" (1.5" webbing may be substituted).
• Serge or zigzag all edges of both pieces of bag fabric.
• Put right sides of bag fabric together. Starting at the top of the side seam,(side seam = 18" length), sew around 3 sides of bag (2 long sides, 1 short side). Make sure to backstitch.

Handles
• Zig-zag or serge one long side of each handle.
• With right side out, fold over raw edge and overlap serged edge.
• Stitch lengthwise down center of handle.
• Pin or secure handle in place. Repeat with the other end of the handle on the same side of the bag.
• Repeat on other side of bag.
• After handles are secure, stitch hem of bag, including handles around entire hem.
• Reinforce stitching on handles.
• Place a 3” strip of velcro on inside of bag between handle straps. Sew in place.

First-Aid Items
The Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center accepts donations of any of the following first-aid items in their original packaging:
• Ace bandages
• Adhesive bandages, 1 inch wide
• Adhesive tape, 1 inch wide
• Arm splints
• Cotton balls, sterile and non-sterile
• Tongue depressors
• Cotton swabs, sterile and non-sterile
• Gauze pads, all sizes
• Gauze rolls, all sizes
• Paper tape, 1 inch wide
• Material for making casts

What else can I do to help the needy locally and throughout the world?

Many people see suffering in their own communities and throughout the world. They want to do something to help, but don’t know what to do.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that "A true Latter-day Saint is to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this Church or in any other or in no church at all, wherever he finds them." (Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1842, 732)

The Saints in Alma’s day..."did not send away any who were naked or that were hungry or that were athirst or that were sick...therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need." (Alma 1:30)

If you desire to help the needy throughout the world, including those in your own community, you might consider the following practical opportunities:

• Pay a generous fast offering.
• Give generously to the Church’s Humanitarian Aid Fund. All money donated to this fund goes to help the poor and needy of the world without regard to race, religion or nationality.
• Donate usable items, including clean clothing, to Deseret Industries. Not only will this benefit the needy within your community, but surplus items are sent to the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center for future relief efforts.
• Volunteer to work at bishops’ storehouses, canneries and welfare farms. Some of the commodities produced at these facilities are used to provide humanitarian aid.
• Volunteer at an agency that assists people in your community. Established community organizations offer many opportunities to serve, including providing meals to the homeless, teaching adults to read and mentoring at-risk youth. Such service not only blesses those in need, but also fosters unity between Church members and the community.
• Contact your bishop about serving a mission. Opportunities are listed in a bulletin sent to him each month.

To learn about cash donations, wills and trusts, donating property, or stocks and bond, click here.

Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center
1665 South Bennett Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Telephone: (801) 240-5954
Hours: 8 a.m.— 5 p.m., Monday through Friday