What in the world is Mischief Ministries???
"Dolls touch something in a woman's heart that is both maternal and childlike." Shelley Magnussen
In
December of 1998, Shelley took a beautiful, ..cuddly Christmas doll with her
when she went to visit a friend who was dying of brain cancer. When Shelley
placed the doll in her friend's arms, the lady burst into tears and said what so
many people who receive a beautiful doll say.
"Oh! I've always wanted something like this."
The lady died six weeks later. Shelley was greatly impacted by the fact that this dear lady waited all her life for something simple that she only had six weeks to enjoy. Shelley was compelled to establish a serious ministry of doll-gifting and has made a life-long goal of giving them out to as many women as possible..
The name, Mischief Ministries, came from Shelley's husband Paul, who often helps make deliveries.
Here are some answers to frequently-asked questions about this ministry:
1. Why the name Mischief Ministries?
The title implies an element of surprise and sanctified sneaking around that is so often involved in the delivery of these dolls.
2. What kind of dolls are used
In the vast majority of cases, the dolls are life-sized baby dolls. Some of them come from local toy stores such as Toys R Us. Some are from thrift stores and have been refurbished. Still others are made from vinyl doll kits. It depends on Shelley's available resources at the time. Currently, most dolls going out are from parts manufactured by "The Doll Factory>" purchased from a doll supply company and assembled by Shelley. These nominally-priced parts, when assembled, make a very nice, heirloom-quality doll.
Though assembling dolls from a kit sounds complicated, it really isn't. The kits chosen are those that simply require stuffing the doll's cloth body and attaching limbs and head. Large dolls are preferred because they lend realism and fit real baby clothes. Many doll recipients dress their dolls in heirloom clothing their children once wore.
3. Who qualifies to receive a doll?
Generally, they are given to people facing a serious illness, crisis or recent trauma or those who are grieving. Some recipients are friends and neighbors. Some of them go to people Shelley doesn't know but that she heard about through the news. For example, she sent one to Elizabeth Smart. (Salt Lake City kidnapping survivor.)
4. Does the ministry give anything out besides dolls?
Yes; sometimes, teddy bears are given to men. Occasionally, the gift will be a nice die cast model car, an afgan or a gift basket full of goodies. It depends on the recipient.
5. How are these dolls delivered?
Sometimes, Paul and Shelley deliver them in person. Sometimes, they ask someone else to make the delivery. They may simply leave the doll at the recipient's doorstep and sometimes, they are sent through the mail.
6. How are people selected to receive a doll
News reports may bring someone specific to Shelley's attention. It is often someone God has put on her heart, people facing an illness, those who recently had a miscarriage, someone going through a divorce, someone celebrating a birthday or someone who just needs to take a hug home with them. It's not uncommon for Shelley to take a doll with her when going out on errands, acting upon a sense that she will meet someone during the day who needs a doll. Shelley says God always leads her to the right person.
7. Is Mischief Ministries a 105-C3 corperation?
No, Mischief is NOT a 501-C3 organization. Those who choose to donate won't get a tax receipt, but they will know that 100% of everything they give will go directly to the purchase and shipment of dolls. this ministry is not currently doing enough volume to warrant the complex process of establishing a 105-C3.
8. Who pays the costs involved in giving dolls.
Currently, Shelley bears the vast majority of costs herself. She is praying that God will provide in a way that will allow her to iincrease the ministry. One dream of hers is to provide dolls to residents of battered womens' shelters in her area. She has lived in such shelters and experienced firsthand what such a ministry could do.
"A lady came into the shelter with a box of beautiful cloth dolls someone had donated for us. I pulled one out and started crying. I couldn't believe someone made something so nice for me. I'll never forget that day. It's all about paying it forward. I know women whose dolls and keepsakes were destroyed by their abusers."
9. Does Shelley ever take nominations for recipients?
Yes, providing the person requesting can verify the need.
10. How many dolls are given out?
It varies, depending on Shelley's inventory and financial resources. It's typically at lease one per month and more at Christmas time.
11. Can I nominate someone to receive a doll?
Yes, with the understanding that the nomination is subject to prayerful consideration and a yes or no decision. Recipients are not self-nominated.
12. With all the urgent needs in the world, isn't a doll ministry a bit frivelous?
Millions of people in thid world are in desparate need of bacis necessities and it is crucial to do whatever we can to illeviate suffering. Nowever, the suffering of someone with a wounded heart or someone grieving a lost loved-one is no less real. They deserve a little comfort. It's important to bear in mind that the need we all have for comfort is valid.
Shelley says, , "I can't tell you how many times I've seen a woman burst into tears as she cuddles a doll to her shoulder, telling me, "OH! I can't accept this! I don't deserve it." That is the very thing that spurs me on. They do deserve it and they are wounded enough to believe they don't." A beautiful doll, given in the right spirit is a reflection of God's love for each of His children, We don't deserve God's love, but by His grace and the blood of Jesue, we do. Jesus told us to go to all the world and preach His gospel, startiing in our own neighborhood."
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
2nd Corinthians 1;3-4