The Ritz Residence
Project
The Ritz Village supports five children’s orphanages on the island caring for 190 children. The children are mostly placed in the orphanages because of special circumstances at home such abuse, violence, teen pregnancy, or severe poverty. With special care they can sometimes go back home, or are introduced to foster or adoptive parents. The children are in need of many basic items.
Needs
General School Supplies:
Book Bags, Chalk, College-Ruled Paper, Colored Construction Paper, Colored Pencils, Compasses, Crayons, Dry-Erase Markers, Erasers, Glue Sticks, Handheld Pencil Sharpeners, Markers, Pencils, Pencil Cases/Bags, Pens, Protractors, Rulers, Solar Calculators, Solar Lantern Lights, and Wide-Ruled Paper
Reference Materials:
(English, Spanish, and Papiamento) Dictionaries and Age Appropriate Encyclopedias on CD
Flash Cards:
(English, Spanish, and Papiamento) Alphabet, Math, and Word
Wall Charts:
(English, Spanish, Papiamento) Human Body, Language, Math, Science, and World and Curacao Maps
Text/Reading Books:
(English, Spanish, and Papiamento) Age Appropriate Story Books, Biology, General Science, Health, Language/Grammar, and Math
Computer Hardware/Software:
Flash Drives/Memory Sticks, Solar-Powered Working Laptops, and Working Laptops
Educational Games/Toys:
Bananagrams, Chess Sets, Connect Four, Puzzles, and Scrabble
Art Supplies:
Acrylic Brushes and Paints, Beads for Bead Work, Buttons, Craft Glue, Craft Scissors, Earring Hooks, Gage Wire, Sewing Needles, Thread, Watercolor Brushes and Paints, and Wire Cutters
Music Instruments:
Castanets, Cymbals, Guiros, Harmonicas/Kazoos, Maracas, Recorders, Tambourines, Triangles, and Xylophones
Sports/Outdoor Activity:
Frisbees, Inflation Pumps, Jump Ropes, Netball/Basketballs, Soccer Balls, Team Uniforms/Kits for Soccer, Tennis Balls, and Whistles
First Aid:
Antibiotic Ointment, Band-Aids, and Plastic Gloves
Clothing/Shoes:
New Bras, New or Gently Used Children’s Clothing and Shoes, and New Underwear
Linens:
Bath Towels, Bed Linens for Single/Twin Beds, Light Blankets, Linen Sets, Mosquito Nets, and Pillows
Kitchen:
Bowls, Pans, Plastic Serving Bowls, Cups, and Plates, Pots, Serving Spoons, Spatulas, and Aprons
Health/Personal Grooming:
Bars of Soap, Combs, Hair Brushes, Hair Pins and Elastic Hair Bands, Hand Cream, Multivitamin Tablets, Reading Glasses of Assorted Strengths, Sanitary Napkins, Shampoos, Tampons, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Vaseline, Washing Powder, and Baby Supplies
Medications:
Folic Acid and Ibuprofen
Gardening:
Books about Gardening, Cloth Caddy for Small Tools, Gardening Gloves, Hand Fork, Small Pruning Shears, Spades, and Trowel
Initiatives Supported
Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.
Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
• Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
• The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.
Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.
