What happened today
On September 1, 2026, MACONA CEO Mariam Williams and a volunteer loaded three bags of donations into the car in Maryland and drove them to a warehouse in Philadelphia, the staging point for our next container to Mali. Inside the bags: clothing for women, girls, and boys, food, over-the-counter medicine, feminine hygiene products, and shoes, sneakers, and sandals. Everything was collected and packed by hand, with no paid staff and no salary overhead, so nearly all of your gift becomes delivered goods.
At the warehouse the bags were handed off for loading into the container. This is the final domestic step. From here the container is sealed and begins its ocean crossing to West Africa, then travels overland toward Mali for distribution.
Every bag carries a GPS tracker, so you do not have to take our word for anything. On the drive north the trackers checked in from Interstate 95 near Elkton, Maryland, about 72 miles from Philadelphia. You can watch the same map we do.
Why this takes months, and why that matters
Our last Philadelphia shipment left in early May, and the trackers did not surface in West Africa until mid July, roughly three months door to door. Ocean freight to landlocked Mali is slow, and a single container only carries so much. That is the honest math behind our work: to make steady impact on the ground, we need overlapping shipments leaving on a regular cadence, not one big push a year.
Overlapping shipments run on two things, donated goods and dollars. In-kind donations fill the bags. Dollar donations cover the parts most people never see: port fees, customs clearance, and safe last-mile transport once the container lands. Both keep the next container moving while this one is still at sea.
Get involved
Your gift keeps the pipeline full. You can give through MACONA's donation page, and if your employer offers matching gifts you may be able to double it through Benevity. Our promise to you stays the same: honest updates on where your donation is and what it delivered, all the way to Mali.
Your Gift at Work
At the Philadelphia warehouse, the bags are handed off and staged for loading into the container. Trackers reading strong before it is sealed for the ocean crossing.
Double Your Impact
If your employer offers matching gifts, search for MIMI AFRICAN CHARITIES (EIN 93-3813688) in Benevity. Corporate matches have funded hydration hubs, school supplies, and full distribution days.