Make a Kit

Make your kit today and drop it off at the Material Resource Center.

Relief Kits

In times of crisis, relief kits provide a family with essential hygiene items like soap, toothbrushes and towels to areas where many basic items are prohibitively expensive. In 2025 MCC distributed 21,401 relief kits in Cuba, Malawi, Palestine (Gaza), Ukraine and Zambia.

Contents (NEW items only):

  • 4 large bars bath soap (leave in wrapper)
  • Shampoo (1 or 2 bottles, totaling more than 20 oz; place in resealable plastic bag)
  • 4 large bars laundry soap (such as Fels Naptha®, Sunlight® or Zote® brands)
  • 4 adult-size toothbrushes (in manufacturer’s packaging)
  • 4 new bath towels (medium weight, dark or bright colors; approx. 29 in x 60 in)
  • 2 wide-toothed combs (6–8 in)
  • 1 nail clipper (good quality)
  • 1 box adhesive bandages (minimum 40, assorted)
  • Sanitary pads (THIN; 1 or 2 packages, minimum 28 pads total)
Relief kits
School Kit

School Kits

School supplies are treasures for families and make a real difference in a child’s future. MCC school kits are often requested after disasters as they help bring a sense of normalcy to children whose families have been forced to flee their homes. Last year, MCC shipped 52,481 school kits to communities in Burundi, Chad, Malawi, South Sudan, Ukraine, the U.S. and Zambia.

Contents (NEW items only):

  • 4 spiral or perforated-pages notebooks (8.5 in x 10.5 in and 70 sheets)
  • 8 new unsharpened pencils
  • 1 ruler (flat, good quality; must indicate 30 cm; inch markings optional)
  • 12 colored pencils (in packaging)
  • 1 large eraser
  • 4 new black or blue ballpoint pens
  • 1 small metal pencil sharpener (one or two holes)
School Kit
sewing kit

Sewing Kits

Sewing kits open doors to stronger, more sustainable livelihoods. Last year MCC shipped 1,332 sewing kits to Malawi, Ukraine and Zambia.

Contents (NEW items only):

  • 4 spools white thread (all-purpose; cotton/poly or 100% polyester; minimum 250 yd)
  • 4 spools black thread (all-purpose; cotton/poly or 100% polyester; minimum 250 yd)
  • 1 sewing tape measure (plastic or fiberglass; 150 cm; inch marking optional) 
  • 1 thimble (metal; medium size)
  • 1 dressmaker shears (good quality)
  • 1 seam ripper
  • 1 package needles (minimum 25; assorted sizes)
  • 1 package straight pins (minimum 80; round plastic heads preferred)
  • Shirt-style buttons (minimum 24; both 2 and 4 holes; black or white; size 12–25 mm (½–1 in); place loose buttons in a resealable plastic bag)
  • Sew-on snaps (minimum 36; assorted sizes)
  • Safety pins (minimum 25; assorted sizes)
sewing kit
Hygiene Kit

Hygiene kits

Personal hygiene is an important part of staying healthy. Hygiene kits give adults and children access to the supplies they need during times of conflict or disaster when essential supplies are often difficult to find and afford. Last year, MCC shipped 41,145 hygiene kits to Malawi, Palestine (Gaza), Ukraine, the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and Zambia.

Thank you for limiting your generosity to the items listed.

Contents (NEW items only):

  • 1 adult-size toothbrush (in manufacturer’s packaging)
  • 1 large bar bath soap (leave in wrapper)
  • 1 nail clipper (good quality)
  • 1 hand towel (medium weight, dark or bright colors; approx. 16 in x 26 in)
  • 1 wide-toothed comb (6–8 in)
Hygiene Kit

Infant Care Kits

Help mothers give their infants a good start. Infant care kits are given to families who have been displaced by conflict or disaster, as well as to mothers in other settings who lack access to the supplies they need for their new baby. Last year, MCC shipped 7,804 infant care kits to Malawi, Palestine (Gaza), South Sudan, Ukraine, the U.S. and Zambia.

Thank you for limiting your generosity to the items listed.

To pack, remove packaging material (except from soap) and fold into the receiving blanket.

Contact Material Resource Center for a new design for hand-sewn gowns.

Note: Items can either be purchased or hand-sewn.

Contents (NEW items only, size 3-12 months):

  • 3 gowns/sleepers (flannel or similar warm, soft material)
  • 3 undershirts/onesies (short or long sleeves)
  • 1 receiving blanket (lightweight fleece or flannel, minimum 30 in X 30 in, larger sizes preferred)
  • 4 large, heavy-duty safety pins
  • 1 large bar mild soap (leave in wrapper)
  • 1 pair of socks
  • 1 cap
Infant Care kits

Prison Care Kits

MCC East Coast’s prison care kits help meet the basic needs of current and formerly incarcerated people.

Each men’s prison care kit contains:

  • 1 pair white underwear*
  • 1 bottle of lotion (maximum 3 oz.)
  • 1 bar of soap (minimum 4 oz.)
  • 1 tube of toothpaste (minimum 6 oz.)
  • 1 deodorant minimum (2.25 oz.)
  • 1 pair of white crew socks*
  • 1 white crewneck undershirt*

*Note: Clothing items are accepted in three sizes: men’s medium, large and extra-large. Please choose one of these sizes and purchase underwear, socks and undershirts in the same size. Pack prison care kit items in a 2-gallon resealable plastic storage bag and use a permanent marker to indicate the clothing size on the outside of the bag.

Each women’s prison care kit contains:

  • 1 pair of women’s white basic underwear (briefs)*
  • 1 bottle of lotion (maximum 3 oz.)
  • 1 bar of soap (minimum 4 oz.)
  • 1 tube of toothpaste (minimum 6 oz.)
  • 1 deodorant (minimum 2.25 oz.)
  • 1 pair of white crew socks*
  • 1 white crewneck undershirt (women’s or men’s style acceptable)*
  • 1 package of sanitary pads (minimum count of 8 thin pads)

*Note: Clothing items are accepted in three sizes: women’s small, medium and large. Please choose one of these sizes and purchase underwear, socks and undershirts in the same size. Pack kit items in a brown paper bag or plastic bag and use a permanent marker to indicate the clothing size on the outside of the bag.

Food Box

Food Boxes

Each year, MCC East Coast partners with Anabaptist churches to distribute nearly 3,000 grocery-packed boxes through congregations’ local ministries.

Contents:

  • vegetable oil (minimum 32 oz.) 

  • pasta (minimum 2 lbs.) 

  • white rice (minimum 32 oz.) 

  • 1 can tomato sauce (minimum 15 oz.) 

  • 2 cans fruit (14-20 oz. each)

  • 2 cans vegetables (14-16 oz. each) 

  • 2 cans beans (kidney, black, navy) (minimum 15 oz. each) 

  • 2 bags dried lentils (16 oz. each) 

  • 1 old fashioned oats (18 oz.) 

  • 1 all-purpose flour (32 oz.) 

  • 1 box of salt (26 oz.) 

  • 1 ground black pepper (3 oz.) 

  • 1 box of cereal (14-18 oz.) 

  • 2 cans meat (chicken or tuna) (minimum 12 oz. each)

Food Box

Details and Questions

Kit Items

We are grateful for all kit and comforter donations. Thank you for limiting your generosity to the items listed for each kit and providing high quality items that can withstand the harsh conditions that many people who receive these supplies are facing.

Cash Donations

We purchase items in bulk that are needed for the various kits. Make a cash donation and designate it for the kit you would like to support.

Why MRC sends material resources

As followers of Jesus Christ, members of the Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Amish congregations are aware of the importance of standing with those who are suffering and caring for their needs. Sharing resources is one concrete way to signal this awareness and desire to respond. The response is rooted in thankfulness and obedience to Christ. The underlying principles of compassion, mutual respect, partnership, and search for peace and justice for all people applies equally to the utilization of all MCC resources: people, money, food and material resources.

Who determines the need, receives material resources, and implements material aid programs?

The local MCC partner agency takes the lead in designing, managing and implementing the material aid program together with the affected population.

What kind of material resource response is appropriate?

MCC places a priority on purchasing materials in-country or in the region if surpluses of appropriate commodities are available at prices comparable to world prices plus shipping expenses. Nearly all MCC responses will contain both locally purchased materials and resources sent from Canada, the United States, and Europe. Material resources will be shipped from Canada and the United States where MCC works in the following situations:

  • Available materials in MCC material resource centers are culturally appropriate.
  • Quality and quantity of materials given do not significantly disrupt the local market.
  • Local partners requested materials and are part of the planning for distribution and use.
  • Assistance is granted for a specific purpose and for a defined period of time.
When is a material resource intervention necessary and appropriate?

In the event of a natural disaster, war or conflict, and economic and political injustices, emergency material aid intervention may be required for some communities. In addition to emergency relief and refugee settings, material resources may be appropriately used in institutions such as hospitals, orphanages and prisons, where people often depend on contributions to survive; to meet the needs of those among the poor who have the fewest resources; in development programs; and when material gifts are tangible ways to stand with people experiencing oppression, natural disaster or war.

Is material aid always a good thing?

A carefully planned material aid intervention can benefit the recipient and be a sign of God’s caring and compassion for those affected by adverse conditions. Many who receive these gifts express thanks to the local partner, MCC and the church supporting MCC for thinking about them.

At the same time, sharing material resources, like sending personnel, food and dollars, remains challenging. When sharing material resources, one must work for equitable and appropriate distribution. Giving material resources can create long-lasting dependencies and put stress on local economic initiatives. For givers in Canada and the United States, sharing material resources must not be viewed as the panacea or only response called for by the church. Material resources are only part of the overall MCC response.

Details and Questions