Instructions on How to Assemble "Buckets of Hope"

IMPORTANT!

Every bucket must be exactly alike with a specific list of items inside. Please follow the detailed instructions carefully. This will ensure that every bucket quickly passes through customs and into the hands of the Haitian people.

The Bucket

The 5-gallon, white, plastic bucket with handle and form-fitting lid, which must be new and unused, can be purchased at Wal-Mart (sku# 00982650640) or Ace Hardware (Ace# 17714).  The bucket must not have a logo or other commercial imprint.

The Food Items

The food items can be generic, store brand items. Do not substitute any items listed and do not add additional items.

2 - 5-pound bags long grain enriched rice
1 - 48-ounce plastic bottle cooking oil
2 - 2-pound bags dry black beans (can substitute with red beans)
1 - 5-pound bag of all-purpose flour (not self-rising)
1 - 20-ounce cylinder container of granulated white sugar (coffee service size)
2 - 1-pound boxes of spaghetti noodles
1 - 2-pound 8-ounce (40 oz) plastic jar of smooth peanut butter
1 - 2-gallon plastic ziplock storage bag (used to wrap the bottle of cooking oil)

Packaging Instructions 

1. Before you begin to pack the bucket, pray for the Haitian family that will receive the food. 

2. Lay the bucket on its side

3. Place rice packages in the bucket. Lay bags side-by-side, flat, running in the direction from top to bottom in the bucket. Gently compress the bags (without breaking them) as flat as possible to create room for other items

4. Place the bottle of oil inside a clean, unused 2-gallon storage bag

5. Compress the air, wrap the excess portion of the bag tightly around the bottle, and close the bag. (This is a precaution to protect the foodstuffs should there be leakage or a break in the bottle during transport.)

6. Lay the bottle of oil on top of the rice bags. Lay the wrapped oil container so that the bottom of the bottle is at the bottom of the bucket and approximately in the center of the bucket. Place the peanut butter jar on one side of the oil

7. Place the cylinder of sugar on top of the wrapped oil bottle

8. Place boxes of spaghetti noodles on the other side of the oil bottle

9. While holding the sugar and peanut butter containers in place, stand the bucket upright

10. Place one bag of black beans down along the side of the bucket next to the peanut butter

11. Place the bag of flour on its side on top of the peanut butter, gently packing down the flour bag to clear the rim of the bucket

12. Place second bag of black beans next to the flour

13. Close the lid on the bucket and make sure it is securely closed

14. Place $10 cash (bills only) into a business size (#10) or smaller envelope. Seal the envelope

15. Securely tape the envelope to the lid of the bucket

16. Take the Bucket of Hope to AMBA collection center before March 15, 2010.