Friends of Thembanathi,
I want to again thank all of you for your continued support of
Thembanathi. Lindsey and I really appreciate all you have
done. It
does make a difference in the lives of the children and families
affected by HIV/AIDS in rural KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. We
were
successful again in raising enough funds to meet our pledge to Holy
Cross Hospice. I sent a check to Sister Priscilla and was
asked by her
to pass on this note:
"I thank you for the
efforts you had made
towards making the difference of the destitute and orphaned children.
Thanking you." I recently placed some additional
orders (yes, I do
have new jewelry and beaded animals!) and received words of
appreciation from the income generation projects we support as well.
In 2007, the jewelry sales were down a little from previous years but,
fortunately, we received more funds in donations. I am
committed to
finding new venues for sales this year, as well as raising donations.
Please keep me posted on any events you hear about or any
fund raising
ideas you have. (May 7 will be World AIDS Orphan Day, so we
are hoping
there will be some opportunities then.) I will be at
Willamette
University this Friday. If you know anyone in Salem, let them
know
I'll be in the Putnam Center from 10 until 5. Next Thursday
night,
February 28, I will be at the African Film Festival at Portland
Community College.
As I mentioned previously, we were asked to assist with the opening of
a new satellite feeding center in an area that has not been receiving
any services. So, in addition to transportation and other
support for
the creche (daycare center), we were able to send funds for that.
Here
are some of the things the money you contributed went to:
- Driver for creche
- Security Guards - One for new center
- Cooks
- Cleaners
- Cutlery, Crockery, Pots for new
satellite
- Training for 5 caregivers for new
satellite
- Facilitator for training
- Tent - for new satellite
- Mattresses
I will be sending some additional funds soon to pay for food and
supplies for the creche for this year. We also sent some
dedicated
funds for school fees and food parcels.
The following are a few excerpts from the last news letter I received.
INCREASED
NEED FOR CARE:
The number
of child headed families have shot up to 742 with the number
of orphans at 1,866 This has necessitated recruiting and training
additional Caregivers and Nursing Staff. Further providing for
in-patient has also pushed up with the increase in prices.
WORD
OF GRATITUDE:
It is our
wish to thank all of you out there, who have contributed in
cash or in kind towards the welfare of our clients – the
infected and
the affected – for the noble donations you have made to them
through
us. If it was not for you, we would not have managed to pursue our
objectives in the way we did. We fully understand that the cost of
living is high – but you have managed to take from the little
you have
to give to those who have nothing.
We wish this
Christmas 2007 and the New Year 2008 may be to all of you
a bridge from toil to success and God’s eternal blessings be
upon you
always.
Again, thank you all for your caring and support.
Helen
Towle
Thembanathi ("Hope with Us" in
Zulu)
P.S. If
you wish to make a donation, please either send a check to me
made out to Orphans Against AIDS for "Thembanathi" or go to the Orphans
Against AIDS
website (
www.orphansagainstaids.org)
to make an online donation. If you make an online
donation, please let me know so I can send you a receipt.
