Orphanages Ask for Our Help....We Need Yours

We have had two more orphanages ask for our help.  They have children they cannot take care of adequately and they are overcrowded.    These two conditions lead to a situation where those children that need the most care fall through the cracks.  One orphange alone has asked us to take 11 children that need surgery. Children such as the Rosenow's child (See "Heartfelt Thanks from the Rosenows" article) simply do not get the help they need.  As much as we want to help more children we simply cannot because the resources are not there. When we accept a child from an orphanage, the orphanage does not cover any of the child's expenses while they are at our Center. When a child is healthy enough to return to their orphanage, and are adopted, we do not receive any of the orphanage donation paid by the adoptive family.

Costs have been going up in China over the past year.  The cost of formula alone has gone up 30% in the last year and will probably do the same this year.  Part of this is the result of China letting their currency adjust to a more fair exchange rate with other currencies and the result is increased inflation in China. 

We hope you have all been able to see our web cam on Sunday nights and can see the wonderful care these children receive.  If we could put a web cam in the orphanages where these children come from you would see what a world away the Siping Center is from the world of the orphanages.  The Rosenow's child, Owen, is a perfect example of why we do this and why it is so important.  He came to us underweight, under-stimulated and with open sores on his body.  He had surgery to correct his spina bifida but it left him with little mobility resulting in the sores on his body.  He left us just last week to return to his orphanage to await his parents' arrival next week.  When he left us he was a healthy, active, bright young boy, his large open sores had healed and he was using his walker and learning to use his leg braces sent to him by the Rosenows.  It is hard to say what would have happened had he stayed at the orphanage.  He may have muddled through and survived to meet his new parents.  His condition might have worsened, his open sores might have become infected, and he might not have lived to see his new parents.  One thing is for sure, he has improved over the last six months and he is in far better condition having the love and care of the the nannies at the Siping Center.  This has given him a good start with his new family.

Owen is just one of the stories.  Over 80 children have passed through our little Siping Center.  While it is small it makes an enormous impact on the lives of the children who are fortunate to come there.  We all want to continue this important work.  The nannies are committed to the children.  But unless we are able to get more support all their efforts will come to an end.  Before we can commit to help the children in two more orphanages, we must know the support is there.  We know there are children that need help and we hope there are people who, along with us, want to help them.  It costs about $300 to support one child at the Center per month.  This provides housing, staff, food, clothes and medical care, (not including any trips to the hospital or necessary treatments or surgeries) but we only ask you to provide $28 per month toward the support of a child.  You can pledge your support by just clicking on the donate button below.  Join us on Sunday evenings on the web cam from 8:50pm EDT till 10:50pm EDT and see what great things your contributions can do! 

Top Photo:  Owen when he arrived at the Siping Center.

Bottom Photo: Owen when he left the Center... Taking a break from his braces and walker to stand on his own two feet.