There’s this orphanage #4
Posted: January 2, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: charity, christmas, donate, feed the kids, help, kenya, needy, orphanage, self-sufficiency Leave a commentThe holiday season is ending, there’s the 12 days of Christmas to wind down but let’s see what we helped with.
Most years there’s not gifts, but this year there were shoes, and dresses, and a special meal which had a little meat. When we give, it allows Duncan, who runs the orphanage, to work toward self sufficiency instead of scrambling for food and handouts to keep the kids fed.
We’ve helped with water tanks, so now they can start thinking of chickens or maybe a cow for milk and eggs to sell. Thanks to everyone who helped, and will help. May your 2024 be a great one. A little here goes a long way. Not sure about everywhere, but in the US, donations are tax deductible. There are many causes, Earthquakes, fire, famine but if you can spare even a little, become part of the story where like the little red train engine, we’re trying to become the orphanage that “could”.
If you care to donate: https://www.omprakash.org/global/light-of-hope-youth/donate
There’s this orphanage #3
Posted: December 18, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: charity, christmas, donate, drought, giving, kenya, light of hope youth initiative, orphanage, rain, thankful, water 2 CommentsIt’s almost Christmas, and we have two great things.
It rained in Kenya, which it doesn’t always do, and the two new water tanks we purchased through donations are almost full. This means they’ll have about 2,640 gallons of water ( 10,000 liters ) to help them get through the dry season.
These are the tanks, and they’re now installed to capture rain water from the roof. If you’ll pardon the pun, my cup runneth over.
And we got a nice anonymous donation. A donation of $1,000 feeds about 100 kids for 3 months. This donation means they’ll be Christmas presents.
The goal is always, make sure the kids have enough to eat, help them build some infrastructure to move to self sufficiency, and let the kids know that they do matter and the world hasn’t forgotten about them.
Thanks for helping, thanks for reading. We can’t help everyone, but sometimes we can help one or two.
If you care to donate: https://www.omprakash.org/global/light-of-hope-youth/donate
And thanks again Mr or Ms Anonymous 🙂
There’s this orphanage, #2
Posted: December 14, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: children, christmas, donate, help, holiday, home, hunger, kenya, light of hope, news, orphanage, orphanages, orphans 4 CommentsWhen we learned about this orphanage outside of Kenya, they were hurting because world events had diverted much of the aid they normally received and the kids were hungry.
With some help, the children were able to have a bit of Christmas, including presents, new shoes. The goal is to keep the kids fed ( and I hope you’ll feel inspired to assist ) and start to build infrastructure to allow them to be more self supporting.
If you feel moved to assist, it would be greatly appreciated.
https://www.omprakash.org/global/light-of-hope-youth/donate
To quote the story shared by my sister: The children haven’t really been able to celebrate Christmas until last year, when there was enough to buy Christmas presents, which were shoes, and somewhat nicer food. They’ve just been praying and being thankful on Christmas otherwise not able to have a special day or celebration.
Last year these two children were left alone, when their mother left for Nairobi looking for work because she was desperate to feed them. The child services alerted Duncan ( who runs the orphanage ) and they were taken to the orphanage. Their mother has never returned, and no one knows what happened to her. Here is a picture of two of them now.
Duncan tries very hard, along with the volunteers who are there, to bring joy into these children’s lives, no matter what the situation. Even when they don’t have that much food there they still try very hard to be joyful and loving. Duncan is doing an amazing job with schooling, and helping the children forget their traumatic past and feel like something of value with value to add in this world.
I hope this holiday season, you’ll assist in helping these kids.
There’s this orphanage…
Posted: December 5, 2023 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: charity, donate, drought, faith, help, kenya, kids, love, orphans, relationships 8 CommentsHere’s a holiday story that I hope can stir you to help.
With chaos in the world, many charitable eyes are turned to places of war, and the need is great. Still, this causes many incredibly poor areas to be forgotten. Here’s one, it’s in Kenya just outside of a city. I was introduced to it by my sister who’s husband worked in Africa. They vouch for the need, and for the application of funds and how they’re used.
We got involved when we heard they were almost out of food. Many parents there had died of Aids or Covid, and when the grandparents could no longer care for the children, they were put in the street. From there the choices are terrible: prostitution for the girls, gangs for the boys, pedophiles for the children.
This orphanage takes these kids in. They have about 100 kids, from very young to teens. They feed then give them clothes and try to teach the young men trades like brick laying, and allow the young women to go to school so they can find employment. Led by Duncan, himself an orphan, this orphanage delivers hope.
Right now we’re working on helping the water situation, by installing tanks to capture rain water so they don’t have a miles long trip to get water.
If you can help, this holiday, and whenever you can, please donate here: ( it’s tax deductible )
https://www.omprakash.org/global/light-of-hope-youth/donate
Thanks – I hope you’ll share your blessings with these poor kids.
My favorite Artist…
Posted: November 28, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: art, artist, website 2 CommentsIt’s never close for second place…
https://meganwebb.bigcartel.com/products
Of course when it’s your favorite youngest daughter, how could that be a wrong choice !
Secret Ballot
Posted: November 4, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 CommentIn all the years I was at home, I never knew who my dad voted for.
When we kids would ask him he would say “The constitution guarantees the right to a secret ballot.” and that’s all he would say.
Sometimes he would say he voted just to cancel out my Mother’s vote, but he was always a joker.
Here’s to a secret ballot.
Chicago’s green river
Posted: March 17, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized 16 CommentsWe happened to take the train down to Union Station to ride our bikes the 40 miles home. I should have realized something was up when our normal solitary Saturday train ride was filled with young and old – wearing checkered lime green shamrock suits and leprechaun hats.
When they say they make the river green…. they’re not kidding.
Nine AM in Chicago…
When you read about St Patrick, you would think his celebration would be more pious. As we pedaled up some of the closed streets we could hear the people in the bars celebrating. At 09:00 am, I was just glad they weren’t on the road while we headed home..
Happy St Pat’s….
gone fishin
Posted: August 4, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 13 Commentslookin for stories
be back when…
heroin – the deadly seduction
Posted: May 4, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: drug addiction, Heroin in the suburbs, loss, sorrow 29 CommentsI know a young couple who live under a bridge. It sounds a bit like a fairy tale, but it not. It’s tragic. They’re both hooked on heroin and she’s pregnant. No matter what anyone does to help, the siren call is too strong. Hard to believe it’s a problem in the affluent community in which we rent.
Jan and I went to a presentation and the policeman said that now drug deaths outnumber gun deaths. He showed us some pictures of OD victims, the drug shuts down the signalling that tells the body to breathe and the lungs fill with a brown mucus fluid that is oozing from the nostrils when the body is found. Pretty horrible sounding isn’t it, but the police say that when they administer the nasal injection to counteract the heroin opiate often the drug user is angry that their high was ruined.
I was surprised by the “corporateness” of the problem. The cartel ships to Chicago, the supply-chain uses gangs to deliver and sell. Often people start on prescription pain killers which are costly and then dealers use the marketing bait and switch. Try this, its less expensive or dealers tell the users it’s a new designer drug. Anything to get the product used and keep the revenue stream moving, and the user hooked.
What can parents do ? Get unused prescription meds out of the house as soon as possible. Be in touch with their kids. If the kid’s behavior changes or their friends change don’t be afraid to drug test. Some of the new tests can detect up to five different drugs and give the results in about seven minutes. If the kid passes, reward them. If they fail, you know what you’re facing. If you find pills in their possession, use an online app to identify them. Information is important.
Testing also gives the kids a face-saving out. When their friends ask them to try something the child can say “No, my parents test.” One of the mothers who spoke said “He told me he just used a little weed.” She came into his room one morning and found him dead.
Early intervention is important. One constant was that despite their sorrow, many families say “At least it’s over”. The relief, the sorrow combine as the siren song ends for everyone that heroin has touched.
bwthoughts 