Madonna Surprises Orphanage with Care Package

People

Talk about haute couture hand-me-downs.

Madonna recently sent boxes of clothes belonging to her 3-year-old son, David Banda, back to his former orphanage in Malawi.

The Home of Hope Orphanage Centre was a beehive of activity thanks to the arrival of the surprise package, labeled "from David Ritchie to friends at Home of Hope – Malawi." Included in the boxes were clothes, children's books – with autographed copies of Madonna's children's book, English Roses – and an assortment of toys.

"These are clothes David can no longer use; they say he is quite a big boy now so he cannot use most of the clothes Madonna bought him immediately after he was adopted," said a source close to the orphanage. "The children were excited to receive the clothes."

Friends Across the Globe

Lucy Chipeta, director of the orphanage, confirmed receiving a surprise package for the kids but would not confirm it came from Madonna. "We have lots of friends across the globe who send us stuff from time to time," she said.

Home of Hope, founded by retired Presbyterian cleric the Rev. Thom Chipeta, looks after about 500 orphans. David's farmer father, Yohane Banda, 33, surrendered his son to the orphanage in 2005, when the boy was one month old. David's mother, Marita, died of complications form childbirth a week after David was born.

Madonna found David at the orphanage through Raising Malawi, a charity the singer set up. Home of Hope is one of the six orphanages Madonna is assisting in Malawi through her charity.