Friday, February 01, 2008

Half The Sky is asking for Help...Please Do What you Can...

Thank you for bringing this to my attention Jennifer.

*I just had a Secret Buddy e-mail and ask me what I thought about her making a donation to Half the Sky this month in the name of her person. I think that would be amazing. My Secret Buddy has done that for me in the past. I felt wonderful about it.

Dear friends,

Greetings from Beijing. Every year at this time we send you a note
celebrating and welcoming the Lunar New Year. This year, the Year of the
Mouse, promises prosperity (we hope!) and good fortune and there should be
plenty to celebrate.

But in these days leading up to the holiday the weather has dealt China a
heavy blow. You’ve probably heard about the millions of workers stranded
all over the country, struggling to return home to their families for the
Spring Festival Holiday. But I don’t know if you know how rough these
days are for our children in welfare institutions, who, of course, have no
families to go home to. You won’t read about them in the news.

Despite power outages and downed phone lines, our Beijing staff has been
reaching out to all Half the Sky orphanages by whatever means possible.
We’ve reached all but five. In some places, conditions are pretty grim.
We’ve managed to get word to all of our sites that we are going to do
whatever it takes to get the children the help they need. I am asking for
your help.

Today Half the Sky launches the “Little Mouse Emergency Fund” to help the
institutions purchase what they need to get through this disaster. If
there are funds left over when the weather clears and services are
restored, we will take the balance and help each site establish a store of
emergency provisions so that this never happens again.

You can give to the Little Mouse Emergency Fund by clicking “Donate Now”
on our website. Please note in the “Special Instructions to Half the Sky”
that your gift is for the Little Mouse Emergency Fund.

I am trying to get on an airplane right now (even airports are crazy!) but
I will write more details about the needs and conditions in individual
orphanages as I fly. Will send more just as soon as I can. I'd be very
grateful if you'd forward this message to others who you think might care
about the children.

Please be safe and warm and well….

Love and thanks,
Jenny

Jenny Bowen
Executive Director
Half the Sky Foundation
www.halfthesky.org

Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects
for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and
preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and
establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with
disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring
adult in h er life and a chance at a bright future.


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2 comments:

jennifer said...

Thanks for posting about this. You have so many more readers than I do, and I know people will want to help.

Lori said...

Oh what a wonderful idea your secret buddy had, I think that's GREAT!!
I was just over there to donate, thanks for posting this!!