Shipping Container - Last Word From Jane
Hey guys – I’m telling you – work gets in the way of the stuff I love, like Honduras. When I was home, I did not feel like doing anything and now that I feel like doing something, I have to work!! I want to go over a few things about the container:
Pre-pack day will be on March 14 th –10:00 until 12:00 noon.
Any and all help will be appreciated - Each team needs to have 3 people there - many boxes will show up not packed and with no labels and it will take all available hands to get them labeled and on a manifest.
Every possible box that can be brought on that day, properly labeled and manifested should be there. If you cannot physically have the box there, it still must appear on your manifest. Simply pretend in your head that the truck is leaving on the 14 th and put everything on the list. If you come up with something else for your team – not for flood relief or Cruzadas request, you will have to take it on the plane with you.
Flood relief items and items requested by Cruzadas are the only things that will be allowed to be added to the truck once the manifests are turned in.
The Bradys are willing to help us with the unloading and sorting of the container in La Ceiba. We have got to help them, by doing several things:
The colors that I have for the 2009 teams are as follows:
Baptist Connection – Lavender
Discovery UMC – pastel yellow
Columbiana UMC – Lime green
Livingston Chapel – both Alpha & Omega teams – Salmon
Central Decatur – Red
Christ UMC – Tom Arnold – “Venus Violet”
Christ UMC – Brianna White – Orange
Helena UMC – Bright canary yellow
Eyeglass Program – Pastel pink
CD & Linda Tripp – Hot Pink
Ernie & Derinda Connor – Christmas Green
In addition – we have the following:
Libraries – Baby blue
English Books – La Ceiba – Tan
English Books – Roatan – light green
I am sorry that paper has to be bought for labels, but these colors are readily available at office supply stores and come in reams of 500 sheets, so they should get you through quite a few containers. If you have a color that you can no longer use because of a split team, perhaps you can work something out with the team that still uses that color. The color labels are VERY IMPORTANT. If a box has your color label on it, it will be kept for your team. No matter what the label says, it will be held for your team. If you do not want it held, put a white label on it, with instructions. THIS MEANS IF I PUT A BOX FOR MARIO WITH A LIME GREEN LABEL ON IT, HE WILL NOT GET IT UNTIL SOMEONE FROM COLUMBIANA GETS THERE AND GIVES IT TO HIM…..
The more of a color that shows on a box, the easier it will be identify……a sheet of paper taped on several sides, or a slash of spray paint in the appropriate colors will help a bunch. PLEASE DO NOT BRING SPRAY PAINT THE DAY OF THE LOADING SO THAT EVERYONE TOUCHING THE BOXES GETS COVERED IN PAINT – THE TERM “WASHABLE” AS IT APPLIES TO PAINT IS VERY QUESTIONABLE.
Anything not to be held for your team should have a white label on it, with instructions on it. Most white labels are for the discretion of Cruzadas – to distribute where needed. For instance, boxes for Shalom, should have white labels with instructions – boxes for individuals at Shalom should have white labels with their names on it if you want them to get them right away. You can also put boxes for individuals on your team colors – just understand that you will have to deliver them.
Each team must make their own arrangements to move their stuff out of the La Ceiba warehouse. For example, typically, I hire a truck to carry my stuff from La Ceiba to Limon on Saturday morning of my trip. I make these arrangements with Sandy. You need to co-ordinate with the Bradys and Sandy how and when you plan to move your color coded boxes from the warehouse.
I need for you to send me four (4) sheets of the paper that you plan to use as a label for your team. I am going to FedEx these to the Bradys and Sandy so that they have some kind of idea what they will be looking for. If you do not have your paper yet, you need to get it as soon as possible because you need to be printing labelsalready!!
If anyone has trouble finding a paper, please let me know at jcoxhse@aol.com – I have a cabinet full of paper and should have enough to at least get anyone started. I have been to Staples and every color we are talking about is in stock and costs from $7.99 – $10.99 a ream.
The Bradys have provided us with sample manifests and labels to use. Please use these samples. (can be downloaded from website)
I have promised them that all boxes will be a manageable size and well labeled. The place that I buy boxes is Wurzburg Brothers in Birmingham – they are off of West Oxmoor Road. The wonderful lady’s name is Judy Woods – she is a fellow Methodist and sells boxes and tape to us at cost. Her phone number is 942-4677. I buy size 3.0 boxes by the bundle of 25 and packing tape by the case of 36 rolls from her. Not sure of the price, but I can assure you that you buy a bundle of boxes for not much more than paying for 3 or 4 boxes at a packing place!! She has all sizes and you are not required to buy bundles. Please give her a call if you need boxes and tape. Tell her that Ray Crump or I told you to call her……
PACKING DAY – MARCH 28 – I will not know the time until a couple of days before shipment – the driver will call me on Thursday or so…..But for now, let’s say everyone needs to be in Arley by 10:00 AM…….and each team needs to bring a minimum of three people. We need folks in the truck, folks on the ground and folks checking the manifests to see what goes on……
I appreciate everyone’s help to try and make this container packing a smooth one and to help the Bradys and Sandy help us on the ground in Honduras.
Any questions, please call me anytime (h)205-669-1578, (w)205-670-6040 and (c) 205-919-6640.