We give lots of choices for helping. First you will see ways to donate. Then, scroll down for information about how we spend money and how to volunteer.
Note that we are Candid Platinum. This is the same as Guidestar.
Checks: Make out your check to MOMS, and mail to
PO Box 1656,
Gualala, CA 95445.
Credit cards: Donorbox accepts all kinds of credit cards. They forward your donations promptly to our account.
iGive: iGive is a painless way to leverage your regular shopping with benefitting MOMS. After signing up at iGive and designating MOMS, you simply shop at one of iGive’s 2000+ stores. iGive will send MOMS up to 8% of your purchase price. The QR code will get you started.
PayPal: You can also use credit cards or your PayPal account via this link to PayPal.
Where your gifts go….
We have no paid US staff, and volunteers raise money to pay their own way to and from Sierra Leone.
We use money for the following things:
- Teaching aids
- Salaries for our Sierra Leonean staff
- Food, travel, and housing for the teams while teaching
- The costs of operating legally and effectively: Government fees, telephone, this website, etc.
More about Teaching Aids
Remember the old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words?" When teaching, a picture is indeed worth a thousand words. A model is worth ten thousand words. A simulator is worth one hundred thousand words!
We teach many subjects, and need a variety of visual aids.
- Anatomy and physiology
- Fetal development
- Labor and delivery
- Newborn care
- Nutrition
Charts and models deteriorate in the high humidity. The lamination on the charts peels apart and the paper molds. The flannel grams we use to teach nutrition get matted and dingy.
A full set of models and charts costs about $2,500. Each year we spend about $400 to update them.
Volunteers
MOMS uses few volunteers in Sierra Leone. As part of our mission, we are developing local people to teach well and administer the program. At times, we will take someone with us who meets all qualifications.
Board members set strategy and guide decisions. Board members are ambassadors for MOMS, talking about the work and asking people to help. Board members keep MOMS going by raising money and good will.
Board members are the future of MOMS.
You can prepare for working with us — or for your other development — by reading two books:
Helping Health Workers Learn and A Book for Midwives. Both are published by the Hesperian Foundation.