What Can I Bring

We're often asked, "What can I bring?"

Some things are hard to get here. For others, the local brands don't last very long. If you're coming down to visit, these things would be most welcome.

Priorities:

Ponchos, Compact Umbrellas--a real need in the rain forest--good quality materials. Really needed, especially at this time of year

Notebooks sized approximately 6½" x 8¾", saddle-stich bound, and lined.

School Supplies--to see the government-published list of what is required at the start of school, CLICK HERE. Backpacks are especially welcome. We accept cash donations for purchase of school uniforms & shoes, and transportation to and from Limón and Bribri to purchase needed items. A last-minute push is on for schoolbooks, requiring an additional $600

There is an ongoing need for the day-to-day supplies that both the students and the schools use. Erasers, pencil sharpeners, rulers, protractors. Construction paper, printer paper, lined paper, colored pencils, regular #2 pencils, ball point pens. And for the pre-school kids left back at The Bridge, crayons and coloring books, especially those with both words and pictures!

Navy Blue Socks for Kindergarten through high-school sized kids. Navy blue pants, boys and girls, same age group., as well as plain white butten-down shirts

Printer ink--all four colors for an Epson T30 printer, genuine Epson cartridges ( 73-73N Black, Magenta, Cyan, and Yellow). They're really expensive here. We print greeting cards and prints, providing cash to help support of our programs. We've tried compatible cartridges, and they just don't work. These may be available only in Costa Rica, but please ask at the Office Depot nearest you.

Envelopes--ivory colored "Invitation" envelopes, 5 ¾″ x 4 ⅜″ - sold with the greeting cards.

Flashlights and decent batteries--with parts that can be easily purchased--"normal" bulbs, standard "D" cell batteries. These are often the only way a student has of walking home into the jungle in the evening, and for homework when candles just won't do the job.

Thick, heavy shower curtains or tarps--can be used to waterproof a thatch roof

The tarps available here are "very" -- very big, very heavy, and very expensive.

Children's Underwear--both girls and boys

Used Towels--bath towels, hand towels, and dish towels are used constantly around here. They wear out quickly. Bring down your used towels! (towels purchased here are often not absorbent!)

Ongoing Needs:

Rain Forest-Friendly Paper--greeting-card stock (60-80#), and brochure stock (120#) white or off-white.

Three-ring binders - plastic construction, white preferred, pockets inside front and back covers, with a clear acrylic cover for inserts on the front cover.

Folders--suitable for holding tests, assignment, and homework

Used DVDs with good movies for kids--no war, police, violence, foul language--generally rated G or PG, with a Spanish language soundtrack available. We had good luck looking in US pawnshops--$6 a DVD. If you're interested in providing DVDs, Download a list of the DVDs we already have by clicking on this link and clicking on the PDF file. These should be playable in Region 2--a part of copyright restrictions. This is usually noted on the package.

Educational Software--In Spanish, grades 1-6, including "learning English as a second language", basic reading skills, mathematics. IBM Windows XP compatible. These should also be playable in Region 2.

Used/new books of children's stories, English or Spanish

Used/New Blankets--single, double--no electric ones

Used Clothes--for children, and for adults.

Toothbrushes--expensive, and they're gone through quickly--don't forget Toothpaste

Britta Water Filters--small, round, for a pitcher. We filter water for about 100-150 people a week. A rough calculation has it that we've served 80,000 cups of filtered water as coffee, fruit juice, or drinking water

PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CLICKING THIS LINK… ...if you plan on bringing anything down.

That will let us coordinate with anyone else who may be planning on traveling here.

And THANK YOU for your support of The Bridge!