Would you like to contribute some "thing"?
Gifts of tangible items are at times solicited by us for use in Africa. Some times people have items that they would like to donate and offer them to us. We always welcome discussion about these kinds of donations!
Most goods donated are shipped via an ocean freight container to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where customs clearance handled and then trans-shipped via rail to Kigoma, Tanzania. As you can imagine, due to the cost and effort involved, we are careful in selecting items for Africa. Good stewardship of funds necessitates this. As a matter of experience, it is not good stewardship of funds to send worn out, inferior, or defective items. Nothing is more expensive than sending the same item twice because the first item was broken or didn't meet the need.
Relief items such as used clothes, shoes, old eyeglasses are always needed in Africa. We love including these kinds of items in our containers. We always wish we had even more container space for these things! We are less fussy about accepting these types of items as the need for these items is so overwhelming in Africa that almost none of these types of items go to waste. We still give guidance (no high heel shoes or winter coats) but can accept a wider range of goods.
We ask donors of relief goods to try to help us with shipping costs. Please consider donating U.S. $1.00 per pound to help us get the donations shipped to Africa.
About shipping costs
Costs include shipping to Africa, clearing customs and paperwork, sometimes paying taxes in Africa, and trans-shipping across Tanzania via rail to the town of Kigoma.
In the past this cost has run about U.S. $12.00 per cubic foot. Sending a 20 foot long shipping container cost approximately U.S. $13,000. and for a 40 foot long shipping container costs approximately U.S. $18,000.
We always need help with funds for shipping. It makes a wonderful project for a church group. We know of no better way to put a smile on the face of many poor people in Africa.
A Word About Tax Receipts
All contributions to Joy in the Harvest, whether money or tangible goods are tax deductible. Joy in the Harvest is happy to provide a receipt that can be used for IRS purposes. Tax receipts are issued in accordance with the IRS rules and ECFA guidelines.
The "fair market value" of donated gifts are tax deductible according to I.R.S. rules. As a matter of policy and in accordance with E.C.F.A. guidelines, Joy in the Harvest does not determine the value of the items donated. We will provide a receipt giving a detailed description of donated items. It is the responsibility of the donor to determine values for tax purposes.