Program Guidelines

The following guidelines are meant to give you the benefit of our experience doing memory boxes. We have few "guidelines" as we feel it is important that the boxes come from your heart. We don't want to bog you down with lots of "do's" and "don'ts". However, there are some things that we have learned along the way that may be helpful to you to create a box that will last as a family heirloom.

• Our first and most important "guideline" is this: Create a box that you would like to be given if you were in the family's situation. You don't have to be the best painter, collager, stamper, or artist. You just have to create a box from your heart. If it is something you would want to receive, then there is surely a family out there who would also appreciate it.
  
  
• As a basic guideline, the boxes should be approximately 7" to 12". We have done boxes as small as 7 inches, and as large as 24". ALL sizes of boxes are needed! They should be at least 3" deep, but may be deeper. They can be in any shape. We have done a large star, oval and octagonal boxes, as well as traditional square boxes. Some hospitals request that we not use rectangular boxes as they are reminiscent of coffins. As the boxes are meant as an affirmation of the life of the child, they prefer not to have a symbol of death given to the family. However, if rectangular boxes is what you have, go ahead and use them as there are other hospitals that do not mind using this shape. We just suggest that you do not paint flowers on the rectangular boxes so they don't have the look of a coffin. The boxes will typically be used to hold the birth certificate, clothing, footprint and hand print, photographs, etc. but some of the boxes are used for SIDS babies or babies with birth defects that live for several weeks, so all size boxes are needed!
  
  
• You do not need to be a member of our yahoo groups mailing list to participate, but you must coordinate your boxes through Marie Gemmil so that we can make sure that the hospitals are getting the right number of boxes! One of our challenges is that when people don't tell us when they deliver a box, we may assign someone else to send boxes to that hospital. As a result, one hospital may get more boxes than it needs while another goes without. You are welcome to invite others to work with you or to involve your local moms group, church, painting chapter, art guild, etc.!
  
  
• Because the boxes are usually being mailed to the hospital, we suggest paper mache as these weigh less and cost less to ship. Please be sure to seal and varnish the boxes as the families will keep them for a long time. Paper mache is a wonderful surface that will last a lifetime or more!
  
  
• Appropriate subjects are flowers, sun, moon and stars, animals, teddy bears, angels, children's toys, dolls, rosemaling or other scrollwork. You can paint, collage, decoupage, stamp, and decorate the box in anyway you feel is appropriate. Some social workers told us to avoid religious or holiday themes as the parents come from different culture and religious backgrounds, but most said Angels were okay.
  
  
• Do not glue lace, paper doilies, or other materials that are likely to come off in time. Many families will keep these boxes for generations and they are handled a lot. Collage works well, but try to avoid things that would easily catch or rip off the boxes when handled.
  
  
• Be sure to finish the inside of the box by painting it, or using a product like "Soft Flock". Sealing the box will also help protect the papers and cloth from deteriorating from the acid in the paper.
  
  
• If you would like to include a saying on the box, see the listing provided. You can use any saying you wish, these are there to help you if you want them.
  
  
• Be sure to sign your box. This is a work of art to the family that receives it. You may include the program web address so that the family can contact you, if you wish. This also gives the family a way to learn about the program. Some families wish to make a donation in their child's name, and this helps the program to grow. We have provided examples of enclosures you can use in your boxes here.
  
  
• When you have completed a box or boxes and are ready to mail them, contact the coordinator, Marie Gemmil (mgemmil@windstream.net or 405-567-2272) and tell her the number of boxes available. She will notify you of the name and address to send the boxes to. Each time you are ready to mail boxes, please contact the coordinator. Do not just mail boxes to the same hospital you mailed to last time!! We need to track how many boxes go to each hospital because some only need two or three a month, while others need a dozen. We will try to connect you with the closest hospital at the time you are ready to mail.

Thank you for your support and help!

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