Kentucky is one of the lead states for the Bucket Project with Baptist Global Response for 2014. The Bucket Project is a way to provide Hospice Care Kits to families caring for a loved one with AIDS. The need for these buckets is great. Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV/AIDS that any other part of the world with nearly 23 million people living with HIV in the region. The Bucket Project provides a tangible way of sharing God’s love and a gospel witness.
In December, a team of 12 from Kentucky traveled to South Africa to lead Holiday Bible Clubs with children. We also had the opportunity to deliver Hospice Care Buckets in Sweetwaters Township. Many of the children who attended Holiday Bible Club either have AIDS or live in child-headed households because their parents have died of AIDS. AIDS has affected life expectancy as well as household income. Households affected by the loss of income earners due to AIDS also have the necessity to provide home based care for sick relatives. Orphans left behind must be cared for by members of the extended family or siblings, some as young as eight years old.
Baptist Global Response has found that sharing a five-gallon bucket of hospice care supplies is an effective way to open doors to share the love of Christ with those who are at death’s door and their extended family members. BGR has researched and worked with partner organizations to determine the best resources to include in the hospice kits. One kit costs around $85 to assemble. A detailed shopping list is included below and nothing more or less should be included for the sake of customs regulations and a need for uniformity. A step-by-step packing guide is available so that all items will fit properly in the bucket. Links to a video and other information are also available on the Bucket Project page of the BGR web site.
If your church will be packing buckets, let your local Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot or other home store know that you will be needing 5 gallon buckets with a lid. We have learned that individual stores choose the amounts to order and we are not able to notify the corporate office of the need for buckets. You can also order the buckets online and have them shipped to you if you prefer to shop for the contents. You may also donate online at the BGR web site and donate a completed bucket or order an unassembled bucket.
Wal-Mart is not the only store where these items can be purchased. Try Dollar Store, Fred’s, etc. Don’t forget that any items not easily found in stores can be bought from the Online Bucket Store.
Shopping List
Hardware:
5 Gallon Bucket and lid that snaps on WHITE, with wire handle. Green, blue or dove (light) gray buckets are acceptable but white is preferred.
If purchased at Walmart: Walmart bucket code (#9826250640); Walmart lid code (#9826270645).
If purchased at Lowe’s: Lowe’s bucket code (#43770); Lowe’s lid code (#50640).
Pharmacy & Health/Beauty Supplies:
1 – 200 tablet EQUATE or CENTRUM Complete Multi-Vitamin. Equate found at Wal-Mart ONLY – code (#7874244276) Purchase latest expiration date.
4 Dove UNSCENTED Sensitive Skin Soap Bars. FRAGRANCE FREE soap is VERY important for patients with sensitive skin. Please leave bars in individual box-es.
2 .35oz. SQUEEZABLE Carmex Lip Balm tubes.
1 50 count box LATEX FREE disposable gloves (First Aid/Bandage aisle).
1 metal fingernail clippers.
1 13oz. FRAGRANCE FREE tub of Petroleum jelly.
2 SOFT bristle adult size toothbrushes (Soft bristles are important for sensitive gums).
1 6.4 oz. tube of FLUORIDE toothpaste.
1 10 oz. FRAGRANCE FREE moisturizing body lotion. NO PUMP bottles.
Baby Bedding:
2 BABY CONNECTION, GARANIMALS or PARENT’S CHOICE Waterproof, Flat (not fitted), Quilted, Multi-Use Pads (27” X 36”) Buy one packet that contains 2 pads.
Bath Linens:
4 THIN washcloths (12” X 12”), bright colors preferred. Thin washcloths are essential so that they may be washed easily and dry quickly.
1 THIN cotton towel no smaller than 24” X 44” and no larger than 27” X 52”. A THIN towel is essential so that it will dry quickly and fit well in the bucket. Bright colors preferred.Bedding:
2 Twin Flat sheets 200 thread count or higher, bright colors preferred.
2 Standard pillowcases 200 thread count or higher, bright colors preferred.
1 TWIN SIZE fitted vinyl mattress protec-tor
Cleaning Products (in the grocery area):
1 kitchen scrub brush (2.5” X 6.5”) with or without handle
2 pairs Latex gloves long cuff, medium size
1 thirteen-gallon sturdy plastic garbage bag (to store kit contents in while bucket is in use)
Miscellaneous:
100 drinking straws (Flexible hospital type)
1 box of Ziploc gallon size freezer bags (You will need six bags to pack one kit)
2 pairs crew length cotton socks Medium adult size, any color. (
You may also download the Shopping List from the Bucket Project web page.)
You are invited to bring completed buckets or items for buckets to be packed at the
Kentucky WMU Annual Meeting, April 4-5, Central Baptist Church in Winchester. We will be filling a shipping container headed for South Africa. But you can continue participation after our Annual Meeting because buckets will be collected all year long.
Herb & Wanda Edminster are our state coordinators and can provide information about Kentucky drop off locations. Email them:
[email protected].
Our goal for the year is 5,000 buckets. Let’s get off to a great start at the Kentucky WMU Annual Meeting!
Kentucky is one of the lead states for the Bucket Project with Baptist Global Response for 2014. The Bucket Project is a way to provide Hospice Care Kits to families caring for a loved one with AIDS. The need for these buckets is great. Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV/AIDS that any other part of the world with nearly 23 million people living with HIV in the region. The Bucket Project provides a tangible way of sharing God’s love and a gospel witness.
Rural King has a mail in rebate on their buckets until 2/8 which makes them free.