An Ever-Giving Steve

Steve with Mario and his mother

Barbara wrote:

We all know how generous Steve Hogan is with his time and effort in providing photos and videos of some of our sponsored children during his trips to visits his sponsored children. Sometime even to the detriment of having less time with his own sponsored children. This is yet another example of his kindness in caring for less fortunate children. Some sponsors may remember Steve delivering a world globe to Mario my sponsored child during his visit to Chile at the end of June. At the same time I had asked CI to check into the possibility of starting an IGP for Mario's mother. The information was finally received but the news was devastating. Mario's mother had been forced to flee domestic violence taking with her Mario and his older sister. . Fortunately, they found temporary shelter of one room and cooking facilities in a church facility in exchange for Mario's mother keeping the church clean and other small duties. The children were given two meals a day at school and the church provided food at weekends.

The IGP was out of the question due to the new situation of the family; and CI's Chilean staff had sent an urgent Special needs list instead.. The only things that they had been able to bring with them were the gifts and Special Needs gifts that I had sent Mario over the years. Luckily, I had provided them with bunk beds a year earlier but had only been able to afford one mattress. So, Mario was sleeping on that one and a church member had lent them another mattress for his mother and sister to sleep on temporarily. Their clothes and other belongings were in boxes on the floor. They desperately needed another mattress since the owner wanted their's back plus somewhere to store their clothes and possesions.

Their situation prompted a generous anonymous sponsor to provide a large sum but there was still an amount left that I just could not afford. In a panic, and needing something to talk to, I sent an e-mail to the only other sponsor who had met Mario, our Steve, and explained his new, sad situation. Without any hesitation Steve immediately offered to contribute the balance required to provide the necessary items to the family. Needless to say I was very touched by Steve's concern and generousity to a child who was sponsored by somebody else.

This week Steve received the above shown thank you from Mario and the photos of their new acquisitions. Not wanting to open the floodgates of other sponsors asking Steve's help for their own children's sad situations but wanting to let others know of his extraordinary kindness I kept this all to myself. However, Steve gave his permission to tell his story in the hope that other sponsors might use the example to help others in a similar situation. So, once again, Steve, many thanks for your generous spirit and caring nature. As my mother used to say when not able to thank somebody in the present 'your reward will come in heaven!!"

The list of gifts provided to child and family

1 mattress
1 closet
1 chest of drawers
6 underwear
1 personal hygiene items
1 cereal and milk

The family's comments when the gifts were delivered

'They were very happy and thankful for the sponsor's donation and constant help.'

How will the gifts benefit the child and/or family?

'The donation means a great help for Mario and his family, because the chest of drawers and the closet will help the family store all the clothing, and the mattress has come in very good time, because the one they were using was only lent, and the owner had told the mother that they needed it back.'