Enjoying the sun.

]]> http://www.angelcovers.org/2013/04/enjoying-spring/feed/ 0 http://www.angelcovers.org/2013/03/a-girl-scout-making-a-difference/ http://www.angelcovers.org/2013/03/a-girl-scout-making-a-difference/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:34:58 +0000 AC_Admin http://www.angelcovers.org/?p=2941 [Continue Reading]]]> So often kids aren’t taken seriously when they want to do good in the world, and yet kids have the power to completely change the world around them, one small step at a time.  We are honored to be the recipient of Ginny’s hard work in the past 4 months.  She raised $430 for the Angel Covers Project Tigger program through a Girl Scouts project. Yeah Ginny!!! Angel Covers will soon be ordering baby bouncers for children throughout China and can’t wait to see more babies in their new bouncers. Kids across the country can and are making a difference every single day! Thank you Ginny for all you have done!!!  Will you follow Ginny’s example and make a difference?

Below is a letter written by Ginny back in November.

November 26, 2012

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I’m Ginny  and I am a Junior Girl Scout.  I am working toward earning my Junior Girl Scouts Bronze Award, which is the highest award that I can get as a Junior Girl Scout.  This is very important to me because I was adopted from China.  I am raising money for Project Tigger.  Project Tigger is part of the organization Angel Covers (http://www.angelcovers.org/our-programs/sheltercaregiving/project-tigger/).  Sometimes there aren’t enough caregivers for the babies in an orphanage.  Baby bouncers give babies a chance to move around instead of being in their cribs. Project Tigger uses donations to buy baby bouncers for babies living in orphanages in China.

I am doing a penny drive to raise money for Project Tigger.  Any change or dollars you have will help.  The class that raises the most money will get a Tigger cupcake party in April.  All of your donations will go to help babies in need in China, even if you just can give one penny.  Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Ginny

The teachers and children did some thanksgiving speeches, each thanking God and the efforts of each other towards making achievements over the years successful. They did not forget to mention the input of the community around, guardians/parents, the sponsors from different parts of US, Europe, Canada through Angel Covers. We had some more entertainment and then came the most awaited part: the gifts! The teachers were each given an envelope with money and a voucher for them to buy from the market whatever they wanted.  A part of the money from Angel Covers also went into making special lunch for them. They were very grateful indeed!

Next, we did the children’s gifts, which was long and had to continue the following day as it was getting dark and the kids were hungry. We purchased different gifts –some kids got the same while others got different ones -depending on need, age and the like. Each gift is personal and special just for each of them. We bought school shoes, shoe brushes, geometrical sets, hair brushes, spoons, flip flops, kangas/lesos for the older girls, (we use them here to wrap around your waist, shoulder, like head scarfs its a must thing for an African woman to have as they are easy and comfortable for casual and social events and also when doing domestic chores) bob tops and panties for the girls, underwear and vests. For the boys: basins and buckets, and also side head flowers for the girls to use at home, jackets, T-shirts for the small kids to wear during sports day, hair bands for the girls with long hair to tie up their small pony tails, towels, school bags, face towels, socks and we also gave them the teddy bears that were brought when Kari and Jenny visited. We did shoes for some of the kids they were very excited and immediately threw away their old shoes which were worn out and had holes in them. They all loved what they each got with each child getting more than four items.

The FORM (high school)  students all got wrist watches this will help them with time management as they have as their stay at HH is very short and yet they have so much to cover and sit for their final exams starting October ending November, if they perform well they are guaranteed entry in the public university which will be affordable as they can apply for study loans.

Our menu for the day was chapati, spice rice (swahili pilau), soda, juice, cabbage, beef stew mixed with garden bean, french beans, carrots, and spices and we also had potatoes. The kids were so happy to have such a special meal, they each were served a plate and ate it outside near a bonfire which we lit for them outside.  I lack words to describe this day but in one word it was FABULOUS!

In this photo the kids were making hand shaped imaginary flowers which they send through an imaginary hand shaped air craft to the US to reach warm and sparkle the hearts of all our sponsors who made this day a success. 

The class 8 results were released yesterday by the minister for education. HH kids did well! Our first (highest scoring student) had 361 out of 500. The pass mark is 250. The first country wide had 430, (but remember) this is a kid who has never had any learning challenges, goes to the rich kind of school, has both parents and all the resources -both at school and home. Looking at these factors, we can say that the HH children who come from difficult backgrounds and even some join school late –did well. We were not expecting them to do this well as most of the class 8 kids had joined HH late in class levels 6, 7 and 8 and had learning challenges. The teachers really tried to pump in their all (greatest efforts) and it has born fruits! We are happy while we do the (belated Christmas) gifts and (school-wide) meal it will also be a good time to celebrate the good results.

Please let the sponsors know that their support in books, food, beds, clothing, vitamins… actually all their support has made it possible for the child from the poor family, who once had no hope, no one to trust and support them –has made them today able to walk with his/her head high, believing in themselves. These kids should be joining secondary this February. We are not sure if they will come back to HH. Sometimes when they do well, people and organizations/institutions like banks will want to support them in government schools. I will keep you posted on this.

—–There is so much for which to be grateful and we owe it all to our wonderful sponsors of specific students, general Humble Hearts sponsors, and the huge efforts by all involved at Humble Hearts. We are so proud of this school and all the staff! They all clearly work extraordinarily hard for these kids and are making a crucial impact in their lives. This is exactly why Angel Covers loves supporting this school so much.

We are thrilled to announce that we have raised more than $3,500 towards our $10,000 needed for the Humble Hearts matching donation and more than $1,250 for holiday gifts for all of the child in our programs! We can’t thank you enough if you have already donated! If you haven’t donated yet, please consider helping us provide a holiday gift to all of the children in our programs by going to www.angelcovers.org and making a donation today. THANK YOU ALL!

Here are the details surrounding this years match for those that are new to the e-mail list or may have missed the previous e-mail with this information.

Every year for the past 5 years, Angel Covers has had a generous donor who is willing to give $5,000 or more to Humble Hearts if Angel Covers can raise $10,000. Countless items have been purchased for the school and home such as beds, stoves, food, building materials, books…the list goes on and on. We are thrilled that this generous couple has agreed to do the same this year. I recently received a very kind letter from them about why they donate each year. Here is a portion of that letter.

“Truly can’t believe that it has been another wonderful year! The progress at Humble Hearts has been incredible; (We) see nothing better than “keeping the pressure on” to assure the continuing and enduring presence of Humble Hearts in Kenya.

We had the opportunity to travel and see a quick glimpse of some of the areas where Angel Covers cares for the less fortunate. It has been amazing to watch the changes that have taken place because of the initiatives that you and the others of Angel Covers have done – basically on a shoestring! To donate to an organization and truly see the impact of the donation is heartwarming to say the least. Many times you don’t see the actual outcomes – with Angel Covers it is apparent!”

We are honored to be the recipient of such a generous offer and letter.
This year, we’ve decided to start by purchasing gifts for each and every child in our programs; Humble Hearts, Mama’s Wish, foster care. EVERY child will receive a new item in January; more than 300 children! Many have never had anything new…ever! I’m asking you to please consider an end of the year donation. Your donation will provide many children the first new pair of socks, blanket, book, or ball he/she has ever had. Please go to our donation page and make a donation.

We need to raise $10,000 to receive the entire matching donation for Humble Hearts, and need at least $2,000 to purchase small gifts for children in the Mama’s Wish and Huaibei programs. I know we can do it!! Pass this along to family and friends.

And don’t forget to order your holiday cards! The profits from these cards will also be matched.

I know we can make our goal together!!

Kari Fillmore
303-947-5215
www.angelcovers.org
Caring for orphans and destitute children around the world. ]]> http://www.angelcovers.org/2012/12/were-getting-there/feed/ 0 http://www.angelcovers.org/2012/11/two-beautiful-foster-kids/ http://www.angelcovers.org/2012/11/two-beautiful-foster-kids/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:47:05 +0000 AC_Admin http://www.angelcovers.org/?p=2692 [Continue Reading]]]> The level of interaction within the foster environment is much greater than what can be provided with institutional care.  This is why the foster program is so important and why we, here at Angel Covers, work so hard to provide foster families to as many children as we can.  Our two children currently in the program live with the same family.  This is their first full month together and living as foster siblings has been very beneficial to both children.  Ava loves being a sister and playing with her younger brother and Hank’s verbal communication has really begun to blossom since she has joined the household.  These two children are provided with nurturing, family centered care and this has

A love of swinging is universal.

really shown to be such a healthy environment for them both.  We are still in need of additional sponsors and are currently looking to bring more children into foster care, away from the institutional environment, giving them the best chance to learn and grow.  Please contact us if you would like to help sponsor one of our children currently in care, or to help our program grow.  Angel Covers, and the children, appreciate your support and contributions.  It is our greatest hope that these beautiful children will find their forever homes soon.  How fitting that would be during National Adoption month.

Ava loves her foster mom!