Q. How do I find a hospital my area?
A. When you have boxes ready you contact Marie Gemmil at mgemmil@windstream.net and, if you tell her where you live, she will try to give you the address of a hospital in your state, whenever possible.
Q. Why can't I create boxes for a hospital in my area or state?
A. Many people come into the program and want to "bring" their hospital into the program with them. If we added a hospital for each new member, we would never get boxes to the ones already in the program. We are happy to add any hospital to our waiting list and add them when we have the additional artists necessary to supply them.
Q. Why don't you provide boxes other than just for stillborn babies and newborn infants who don't survive?
A. There are two reasons; first, we have a waiting list of hospitals wanting boxes. Until we can meet the need of the hospitals needing boxes for stillborn babies and newborn infants who don't survive, we don't feel it is appropriate to expand the program beyond that scope. The second reason is that a family that loses an older child or family member already has photos, memories, and memorabilia from that person's life. When a mother goes into a hospital to have a child and loses that child, they don't have the benefit of the photos, memories, etc. The box is a way to give the family something to hold onto and to affirm the life of the child, no matter how brief. Most women will tell you that they loved their baby from the moment they found out they were pregnant. Although the child's "life" may not have been long, the families relationship with the child began long before.
Q. What size boxes do you use?
A. We use paper mache boxes (because they are lighter and as such less expensive to mail), in three or four sizes (they all work - approx 12 inch - 10 inch 8 ½ inch and 7 inch and about 3 to 8 inches deep) and in all shapes, except rectangles.
Q. What designs are appropriate for the boxes?
A. The boxes can have bears, bunnies, children's toys, children, baby faces, flowers, things that are typical of children's decorations - whatever you think would comfort you if you were a recipient of the box. Although we have done many angels in the past, since they are a religious reference, some hospitals prefer not to have them.
Q. What colors should the boxes be?
A. Although you are free to use any colors that you like, our participating hospitals generally prefer the pastel colors. That said, the recipients of the boxes are from every walk of life, race, religion, and color. The rule of thumb that we propose is this: If you had lost a child, would you want to receive the box? If yes, then there will surely be a family that will love and appreciate the box.
Q. How did the program get started?
Q. Are you a non profit organization?
A. Yes. See the contribute page for specific information. We can provide a tax receipt to anyone making a cash contribution or providing receipts for products used in the creation and mailing of boxes to hospitals.
Q. If I don't have time to create boxes, can I still contribute to the program in some way?
A. Yes. We have set up a sponsorship fund where people can donate funds that are used to purchase boxes for people to use for the program, who cannot afford to pay for the boxes. Click here for more information.
Q. Is there a minimum number of boxes that I need to make to be a part of the program?
A. No. We are happy to have any boxes that you want to create. Each box is precious to the recipient.
Q. What are the requirements to join the program?
A. You only need to be willing to create boxes for the program.
Q. How do I get the boxes to the hospital?
A. Contact Marie Gemmil at mgemmil@windstream.net and tell her how many boxes you have and she will tell you where to send them.
You can get free boxes from the post office, if you are willing to mail your boxes priority. The box # H will hold 3 to 4 boxes and cost about $5.00 to mail. It costs about $4.00 to mail one box.
Q. Is the Memory Box Artist Program a money making venture?
A. No. We are currently fund raising to gain nonprofit status. However, the nature of the program is that the boxes go directly from the artist to the hospitals so that the program handles no boxes or money directly.
Q. How do I get my chapter/guild involved in the program?
A. Chapters of SDP and other Adult Arts & Crafts Guilds may participate by appointing one member to be the liaison between the Chapter/Guild and Marie. When boxes are ready, they notify Marie. Many chapters adopt hospitals in their general area, so that they do not have to incur the shipping costs. Marie is happy to set this up for the chapter, if they will supply the name and phone number of the hospital