Did you say that you needed someone to help?

Look at these faces!!!! These are only a batch of pictures that I have in front of me that are for the children waiting for their turn in the fundraising line!!! Every child has a story to pull at your heart-strings. It is difficult right now as we try to get through this slow time for donations.

Each one of these families has special & urgent needs. I am glad that they will each get a chance. There are still several requests waiting for responses from the field. If your name is on this list, and you have the SNQuote & pics back from CI, please forward them ASAP. I need to set up the pages for these:

Robyn

Jennifer

Su (I need the pics only)

Steve

Stephanie

OK... Now, based on the list of ones we are waiting for responses for, I am pretty sure some of there kids on this blog will get their fundraisers bumped up. We already have a lot of kids waiting for our help (as you can see), so hopefully, we will get the other responses soon.

I will start project #14 on October 1st, and we will just keep plugging along on these fundraisers. The key is to never forget WHY we are doing what we are doing!!!

I have such a unique "job" (albeit un-paid). I get to know each one of these children as I set up their pages, look at their pictures, and hear about them from their sponsors. I feel like I have 50 sponsor kids all to myself!!!! I am so grateful that all of you have chosen to share your experiences, love, devotion, and monetary contributions with the group.

Together we are changing lives, one child at a time!!

Lift One Food Baskets

First, I logged in to my account today & found an updated photo of Mwanza!!! I am so happy to have this one! His last picture (which was his first sponsorship picture) was not so great. As you may remember one year ago, Mwanza and his brothers and sisters were featured on CI's blog. All five of them were barely getting by on an income of $5 a month!!!! Their parents had passed away, and they were living alone. Their only income was from when the boys would go into the city to beg for money. Understandably, his first picture was not the best. He looked worn out and as if he was trying to smile, even though he didn't feel like it. Now, all of the pictures I have received from the packages I have sent have had this sweet smile above. I am so proud of him that he is now back in school, and has a chance at a good life. He and his family received a small donation from Children International from doing a commercial with Marsha from the Brady Bunch. They have all received beds from Ms. McCormick (Marsha on the Brady Bunch) as well. Dana, the sponsor of the youngest boy in the family named Lovemore, sent the family a monetary donation. They purchased a lot of food with it.
Then, more recently, CI featured a challenge to current sponsors. They wanted us to help find sponsors for the children that are waiting. It was a "Lift One" project. In exchange for finding sponsors, our sponsored children would receive a $50 food basket!!! Well, I had several people respond and take on waiting children for me!! In exchange, all of my 9 children received food baskets in February!!! I have received thank you cards from 8 of them. The only one I am still waiting to hear from is Mwanza. Since Mwanza is in Zambia, it will probably take longer to get his thank you card. Anyway, since some of you helped me to reach my goal of placing waiting children, I wanted to let you know what food items my children's families received. Here is the list:
1 sack of rice
1 bag of powdered milk
1 bag of oats
2 bags of beans
1 gallon of cooking oil
1 box of corn flakes
1 bag of sugar
1 bag of pasta
1 pack of cookies
1 box of Jell-o
1 can of tomato sauce
1 bar of soap
tuna
salt
flour
eggs
brown sugar
coffee
chocolate
chicken
sausage
and
seasonings

Thank you to everyone who helped!!! All of the families were extremely grateful.