A Little Help…

I got an email a few weeks ago and have been pondering over what to do. I hate to ever ask for help.  I already feel like I ask a lot of everyone. I talked to Lynette and some of the Trunk Keepers and they thought we could do this together.

Before I tell you what it is, I want you to know I would never ask for help or anything unless I know exactly where every penny is going. I am responsible to to you.

The email I received from Mark Cooper, from Chicks for Children,  read

“There is some startling news that was brought to our attention… Due to the elections, the Kenyan government will close programs like all schools for three weeks beginning the Monday after we leave. Of course, this leaves our children vulnerable not only at night but also during the day. It means that a scarcity of food will exist if measures are not taken. Of course, they have some food support for kids. However, the kids may NOT come to the feeding center any more than they can come to the school. Remember, food for kids in the slum is food for any and all. It is a matter of how the distribution of food can be orchestrated. That said, we might go with that in mind and see what Richard and Hellen may think they need for such a vulnerable period. They take this time very seriously. This explains why Jimmy could NOT go back until after the election. As much as he asked, Richard and Hellen would not place him in harms-way. This will be a very upsetting time for him, especially if tribal warfare breaks out like five years ago.”

I asked what we could do to help.  I can’t handle the thought of Lil David or Rebecca or any of the children still in the slums going 3 weeks or even a day without food.  It kills me.  And I hate the thought of them finding  a piece of rotten fruit in the garbage only to have a 40 yr old man steal it out of their hands.  Nancy, Brian and Clinton are at the Orphanage so they will be okay, but the other 225 kids at the school (only 75 kids live at the Orphanage) will not be ok if we do not help them.

Mark and the guys spoke with Hellen and Richard about the best way to help. You can’t just give a young child a backpack of food, it’d get stolen. It is difficult when there is such desperation even on a normal day.

I asked Mark what he needed and this was the response:

“As far as the concern about food when the schools close soon….as I anticipated, they will need support for purchasing more food during that period of time when the kids are back in the slum. They will take food into the slum for daily feedings. The kids cannot go to the feeding center. Hellen said that the support will require about $6,000. Linda and I will want to help with that. I know it is difficult for us to take food to one specific group without others being involved. Hellen said that guardians have other kids around them other than those who go to the feeding center. Also, those adults positioned to provide some care for the kids would need some food, as well. I do know that each of our trips we give about $1,000 to feed simply the widows. We gave $1,300 the last trip to cover such cost. In other words, the cost is not inexpensive.”

I wanted to ask those of you who are having Trunk Shows on March 1 & 2, (or even if you are not)  about having a bake sale.    I was thinking, if you wanted to, Janes could have some baked goods for sale and sell for just 1-2bucks. Whatever you make you could then donate via the PayPal button on the  Chicks for Children website.   All it takes is  300 bake sales at 20 bucks. I think we can do this. The cost of food is a little high becasue we can’t just feed the children. We also have to think about helping as many as we can.  I hope that you will think about it, and it can be something super simple. Or if you just want to donate 5 bucks, please just go the Chicks for Children site and click the button. As we know from past experiences, it’s not about a huge donation from one person. It is about everyone pitching in a little. A little from each of us is a lot!!! The Orphanage that will get 100 girls out of the slums this summer was built because we all came together. It is being built in memory of Amber.

Jenni had a Bake Sale a few weeks back, and so did Kiara.  Jenni had a blast getting her kids involved. Check it out….