February News
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
It has been so long since we have
updated everyone, that I barely no
where to start. Since I have written last, we have been to China,
completed an adoption, visited two orphanages, celebrated Christmas,
celebrated the New Year and Lunar New Year, and worked very hard to
finish raising the endowment needed to establish China's Orphan Relief
Fund. So today, I thought I would take a deep breath and a break
from the bustle to get an update out. Please forgive me for
sending such a long newsletter!
Just before Thanksgiving we left for China. We had so many wonderful experiences there and I wish I could tell you about them all. But, to keep this update short enough to fit in your e-mail box, I want to just pull out some of the highlights from our orphanage visits.
The first orphanage we visited was in Huaibei, Anhui. This is the orphanage our first daughter is from. Huaibei is not a large city by China standards, and is in the remote northern part of the province. There were about 40 children in the orphanage when we visited, although the number continually fluctuates. The children ranged in age from a few days old to 11 years old. Almost all of the children were under the age of 2. We were able to take several suitcases full of donations to the orphanage, including blankets, toys, and cleft bottles. We also too lots of cash that we used to go shopping with the assistant director an purchased an air conditioning/heating unit as well as clothes, vitamins, sleepers, coats and many other items they need to care for the children on a daily basis. Delivering everything to the orphanage was VERY fun. We spent time playing with the children, holding the babies and talking with the staff. We were able to help them purchase a month's supply of formula that they use for the babies. The staff there is very caring towards the children. The nannies explained to us that they make most of the clothing that the children wear, as there isn't always money to purchase clothes. We found three babies there that are in need of surgery for cleft lip/palate, and have been working to try and arrange for these surgeries. Additionally, we found that the 11 year old is unable to move his wrists or bend his knees. We hope to be able to help him medically as well. The staff told us that no families had ever returned to China and visited the orphanage in Huaibei. They hope that other's will and that we will come back as well. Let's just say that Huaibei isn't the easiest place to get to, but Emerson would be proud as we have made a trail.
The second orphanage we visited was in Shantou, Guangdong. Our new daughter Dawn Dawn was at this orphanage. We were able to visit the orphanage for several days, and had a wonderful time with the staff, and all of the children. This orphanage is home to over 100 kids. They range in age from infants all the way through high school, and they had their first young lady start college recently. Although the orphanage has more children, they are really short on staff. It was great to be able to spend time with them, to help at feeding time, and play with the children. We also brought several suitcase of donations with us to Shantou and money to purchase items they needed. We left each of the older children with their own blanket. We were also able to purchase 4 bicycles to add to the ones they had, so that all of the children could ride to school. The herbs we brought from the US that they have difficulty getting in China to help with a pigmentation problem for one girl have been really helping this young lady. We were able to purchase medicines they needed for some children with Hepatitis, cold medicines, and vitamins both chewable and liquid for the infants. The nannies wanted some tape players to be able to play music for the children, so we purchased these along with tapes. The staff was in need of a camera to take pictures of the children, so we were able to buy them a camera and many rolls of film. A paper shredder for the office was also purchased. It was hard to say goodbye to the staff and children, after spending so much time there. This staff is truly incredible in all that they do, and how tremendously they care for the children.
While we were in Guangzhou, the bouncy chairs that we purchased for Project Tigger had arrived. We were able to see them before Sherry of Sherry's Place, shipped them off to the orphanages in the Guangdong province. We have also been informed that the rest of the bouncy chairs arrived at the China Charity Federation for distribution. We are so delighted that so many babies will be able to be out of their cribs. We have decided to continue this effort, and will order more bouncy chairs when we have raised enough money to purchase 500, as we can get a better price at that level. We have also worked to make arrangements for bouncy seats to be purchased for orphanages in Russia. See our Project Tigger page for details and photos. One of the new things we have available now, are gift cards for Project Tigger. You can purchase bouncy seats in someone's name, and we will send them a card for the special occasion. This is a great way to celebrate birthdays and holidays. See our gift cards page for the details.
One of the things that has always concerned us is the use of wooden cribs with very low sides in many of the orphanages in China. After seeing this again in Huaibei, and seeing a cleft baby rubbing her mouth across the painted surface, we have been working to help make changes. We are working hard to be able to purchase stainless steel cribs with higher sides in bulk quantities for use in the orphanages. Hopefully this will prevent the children from eating paint and also prevent them from falling out of the wooden cribs! Some orphanages tie the children down to help keep them from falling out. While it solves one problem it creates another. We hope to have this program up soon. You will be able to purchase a gift card for the crib program as well.
Many children in the orphanages in China never get to go to school. Some, because they have physical needs, will not be accepted at the kindergartens. The Shantou orphanage is working to start their own kindergarten program. Angel Covers was able to send $500 to Love Without Boundaries to help establish this school within the orphanage. Staff will be hired to provide all of the children a formal education.
In January, we were able to begin blankets on their way to Kazakhstan and Russia. Twenty-five blankets and 50 hats have started their way to Russia, while 20 blankets, 15 hats and 12 large stuffed animals have started their way to Kazakhstan. While we have been very China focused recently, we are still very committed to working in other countries as well. We hope to be doing more work in other countries in the near future.
Most of our time since returning from China has been consumed by the Hands of Hope project. This project has been going wonderfully. We are nearing the $200,000 mark from this project, and the $500,000 needed to complete the endowment for China's Orphan Relief Fund has almost been completed. The deadline for Hands of Hope was extended to February 14th, to provide an opportunity for people to spread the word at local Chinese New Year parties. We have been so excited to watch this grow and are ecstatic at the thought of the Orphan Relief Fund launching! We want to share a fundraiser with you that is being done by China Heart Designs. Mindy has designed a wonderful t-shirt, and is donating $10 from the sale of each shirt to the project. Check it out if you haven't see them - http://www.zmdesigns.com. THANKS MINDY!!!!! The Orphan Relief Fund is going to make such a difference to the children in China. We wish that all governments would undertake such a fund. It is more than just a trail for others to take, it is life for children.
Stop by the accomplishments page as we finally got it updated last month. We have added many new pictures even from things as long ago as last summer. There are new pictures from Mexico, Russia and the Tigger Project. We still have more to put up, and love the photos we receive back. We appreciate all of the wonderful help that we continue to receive, and the support of others that keeps us going.
Hope this year has started well for everyone!
Kari Fillmore
co-founder Angel Covers
You are receiving this because you have requested to receive e-mail from us, or because you have made a purchase, donation, or had contact with us via our web site. If you have received this in error, or no longer wish to receive our e-mail, we apologize and ask that you e-mail us at unsubscribe@angelcovers.org . We value your privacy as much as your support. Angel Covers will not give your e-mail address to any other parties.
Just before Thanksgiving we left for China. We had so many wonderful experiences there and I wish I could tell you about them all. But, to keep this update short enough to fit in your e-mail box, I want to just pull out some of the highlights from our orphanage visits.
The first orphanage we visited was in Huaibei, Anhui. This is the orphanage our first daughter is from. Huaibei is not a large city by China standards, and is in the remote northern part of the province. There were about 40 children in the orphanage when we visited, although the number continually fluctuates. The children ranged in age from a few days old to 11 years old. Almost all of the children were under the age of 2. We were able to take several suitcases full of donations to the orphanage, including blankets, toys, and cleft bottles. We also too lots of cash that we used to go shopping with the assistant director an purchased an air conditioning/heating unit as well as clothes, vitamins, sleepers, coats and many other items they need to care for the children on a daily basis. Delivering everything to the orphanage was VERY fun. We spent time playing with the children, holding the babies and talking with the staff. We were able to help them purchase a month's supply of formula that they use for the babies. The staff there is very caring towards the children. The nannies explained to us that they make most of the clothing that the children wear, as there isn't always money to purchase clothes. We found three babies there that are in need of surgery for cleft lip/palate, and have been working to try and arrange for these surgeries. Additionally, we found that the 11 year old is unable to move his wrists or bend his knees. We hope to be able to help him medically as well. The staff told us that no families had ever returned to China and visited the orphanage in Huaibei. They hope that other's will and that we will come back as well. Let's just say that Huaibei isn't the easiest place to get to, but Emerson would be proud as we have made a trail.
The second orphanage we visited was in Shantou, Guangdong. Our new daughter Dawn Dawn was at this orphanage. We were able to visit the orphanage for several days, and had a wonderful time with the staff, and all of the children. This orphanage is home to over 100 kids. They range in age from infants all the way through high school, and they had their first young lady start college recently. Although the orphanage has more children, they are really short on staff. It was great to be able to spend time with them, to help at feeding time, and play with the children. We also brought several suitcase of donations with us to Shantou and money to purchase items they needed. We left each of the older children with their own blanket. We were also able to purchase 4 bicycles to add to the ones they had, so that all of the children could ride to school. The herbs we brought from the US that they have difficulty getting in China to help with a pigmentation problem for one girl have been really helping this young lady. We were able to purchase medicines they needed for some children with Hepatitis, cold medicines, and vitamins both chewable and liquid for the infants. The nannies wanted some tape players to be able to play music for the children, so we purchased these along with tapes. The staff was in need of a camera to take pictures of the children, so we were able to buy them a camera and many rolls of film. A paper shredder for the office was also purchased. It was hard to say goodbye to the staff and children, after spending so much time there. This staff is truly incredible in all that they do, and how tremendously they care for the children.
While we were in Guangzhou, the bouncy chairs that we purchased for Project Tigger had arrived. We were able to see them before Sherry of Sherry's Place, shipped them off to the orphanages in the Guangdong province. We have also been informed that the rest of the bouncy chairs arrived at the China Charity Federation for distribution. We are so delighted that so many babies will be able to be out of their cribs. We have decided to continue this effort, and will order more bouncy chairs when we have raised enough money to purchase 500, as we can get a better price at that level. We have also worked to make arrangements for bouncy seats to be purchased for orphanages in Russia. See our Project Tigger page for details and photos. One of the new things we have available now, are gift cards for Project Tigger. You can purchase bouncy seats in someone's name, and we will send them a card for the special occasion. This is a great way to celebrate birthdays and holidays. See our gift cards page for the details.
One of the things that has always concerned us is the use of wooden cribs with very low sides in many of the orphanages in China. After seeing this again in Huaibei, and seeing a cleft baby rubbing her mouth across the painted surface, we have been working to help make changes. We are working hard to be able to purchase stainless steel cribs with higher sides in bulk quantities for use in the orphanages. Hopefully this will prevent the children from eating paint and also prevent them from falling out of the wooden cribs! Some orphanages tie the children down to help keep them from falling out. While it solves one problem it creates another. We hope to have this program up soon. You will be able to purchase a gift card for the crib program as well.
Many children in the orphanages in China never get to go to school. Some, because they have physical needs, will not be accepted at the kindergartens. The Shantou orphanage is working to start their own kindergarten program. Angel Covers was able to send $500 to Love Without Boundaries to help establish this school within the orphanage. Staff will be hired to provide all of the children a formal education.
In January, we were able to begin blankets on their way to Kazakhstan and Russia. Twenty-five blankets and 50 hats have started their way to Russia, while 20 blankets, 15 hats and 12 large stuffed animals have started their way to Kazakhstan. While we have been very China focused recently, we are still very committed to working in other countries as well. We hope to be doing more work in other countries in the near future.
Most of our time since returning from China has been consumed by the Hands of Hope project. This project has been going wonderfully. We are nearing the $200,000 mark from this project, and the $500,000 needed to complete the endowment for China's Orphan Relief Fund has almost been completed. The deadline for Hands of Hope was extended to February 14th, to provide an opportunity for people to spread the word at local Chinese New Year parties. We have been so excited to watch this grow and are ecstatic at the thought of the Orphan Relief Fund launching! We want to share a fundraiser with you that is being done by China Heart Designs. Mindy has designed a wonderful t-shirt, and is donating $10 from the sale of each shirt to the project. Check it out if you haven't see them - http://www.zmdesigns.com. THANKS MINDY!!!!! The Orphan Relief Fund is going to make such a difference to the children in China. We wish that all governments would undertake such a fund. It is more than just a trail for others to take, it is life for children.
Stop by the accomplishments page as we finally got it updated last month. We have added many new pictures even from things as long ago as last summer. There are new pictures from Mexico, Russia and the Tigger Project. We still have more to put up, and love the photos we receive back. We appreciate all of the wonderful help that we continue to receive, and the support of others that keeps us going.
Hope this year has started well for everyone!
Kari Fillmore
co-founder Angel Covers
You are receiving this because you have requested to receive e-mail from us, or because you have made a purchase, donation, or had contact with us via our web site. If you have received this in error, or no longer wish to receive our e-mail, we apologize and ask that you e-mail us at unsubscribe@angelcovers.org . We value your privacy as much as your support. Angel Covers will not give your e-mail address to any other parties.