Angel Covers

2009 Gifts From the World Auction

2009-11-15T21:08:00.007-07:00

Hi Everyone,

This years Gifts From The World auction is up and running! There are more than 75 beautiful items from around the world. The auction is over on Friday the 20th, so bid soon. Every single penny raised will go to finish purchasing items for the children of Angel Cottage, including educational needs like desks, textbooks, and blackboards. We have raised more than $8,600 towards our goal of $10,000. We don't have far to go. With the holiday's right around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to start some of your shopping!

Click this link to view the auction!

Please pass this link on to your family and friends. You have all been incredibly supportive of the children living at Angel Cottage! Here's a great opportunity to not only help these children further, but get beautiful items for yourself or those you love.

Thank you!!

2009-11-10T13:33:00.004-07:00

As you know, the America's Giving Challenge ended Friday, Nov. 6. We were so glad to be a part of such a huge challenge. Our little grass roots organization raised just over $7,700 for the children of Angel Cottage and came in 22nd out of more than 7,100 organizations entered. Amazing! Sales of holiday card and donations received directly by us during the month of the challenge raised another $600. The children of Angel Cottage now have more than $8,300 of the $10,000 needed for the matching funds. I can't thank you all enough.

In an effort to raise the remaining $1,700 needed for the matching donation, we will be holding our annual Gifts From The World auction starting this Saturday the 14th through Nov. 20. Please check out these great items donated to us from around the world. Think holiday gifts! Watch our website for a direct link to the auction. http://www.angelcovers.org/giftsfromtheworld.html The items are beautiful!

Please also remember to order your holiday cards. They are selling fast already! All of the money raised through the sale of these cards also go to the children of Angel Cottage. http://www.angelcovers.org/holidaycards.html

Please be sure to join the Angel Covers fan page on Facebook if you haven't already. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angel-Covers/182221079501 We will be posting LOTS of pictures, updates of programs, and news as often as possible. It's a great way to keep up to date with what's happening with Angel Covers.

More than 30 deaf children moved into their new home this week. Because of all of you, they each have their own bed, the wall for the play area is started, and tables will arrive soon. These children have learned how capable and important to the world they truly are because of your support. There's no greater gift.

So very grateful,

Kari

Let's Finish Strong!

2009-11-05T21:08:00.005-07:00

Tomorrow at 1:00 MST ends the America's Giving Challenge. At the start of this challenge, we set a goal to raise $10,000. So far we have raised almost $7,600 through this challenge directly. We have also raised another $600+ through the sale of our holiday cards and other donations. Because of all of you, we have less than $2,000 needed before we reach our goal!

Because of the more than $8,200 we have raised and the $4,100 matching donation, the children of Angel Cottage have new beds, a concrete wall is being built to create a safe play area, and tables are being built. Your generosity is turning this concrete building into a true home. The children are looking forward to having room to run and play, to having tables for eating and studying, and to having multiple bathrooms.

As the children prepare to move into their new home, please help us finish this marathon-like challenge strong. With your help, this home will be all they have dreamed it will be.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135

So grateful,

Kari

Before and After

2009-11-02T21:05:00.004-07:00

I just love before and after pictures! They tell a story better than any words ever can. You may remember the pictures of of the kids crammed in their bedrooms at Angel Cottage. The beds are end to end, side to side, in small rooms with 2 and 3 children sleeping in each. Today, I got the best "after" picture of the girls' room at the new Angel Cottage!

I know that walking between beds seems completely normal. It is to most of us. But these girls have been living in very tight, very unhealthy rooms for the past 2 years because they have no where else to go. As soon as the kids move into the new Angel Cottage, they are going to feel like they are living in a mansion!

Angel Covers has a new fan page on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angel-Covers/182221079501 We will post pictures and updates from all our programs on a regular basis. Join us and see lots of before and after pictures as soon as we receive them.

Your support of the America's Giving Challenge is making Angel Cottage a home. Keep up the good work!

So grateful,

Kari

Moving forward

2009-11-01T14:52:00.005-07:00

The America's Giving Challenge is moving forward and so is Angel Cottage. Beds and mattresses are being moved in and the paint smell is on the way out. Beatrice and I decided to wait a week for the home to warm up and the paint smell to leave. It got quite cold in there after lots and lots of cold water was poured on the new concrete to help it cure. The walls have been painted a bright, cheerful yellow, and the dining room floor is red.

As the children prepare to move, we continue to work towards raising $10,000 for their needs. In the past 48 we have raised more than $250 and now only need to raise another $2,300 to meet our goal. A local girl scout troop recently donated more than $24 in change to help this cause. Way to go girls! More and more people are also purchasing holiday cards, with 50% of the cost of these cards going straight to the kids. http://www.angelcovers.org/holidaycards.html Additionally, our annual Gifts From The World auction will begin on Nov. 14 with all the proceeds going to the needs of Angel Cottage. http://www.angelcovers.org/giftsfromtheworld.html

The America's Giving Challenge ends on Nov. 6 at 1:00 MST. In the next 5 days, please ask as many people as you know to donate just $10 for these children, purchase holiday cards, or spread the word about our auction. Each of these is a way for you to provide vital assistance to the children of Angel Cottage. They are dreaming big because of the support from hundreds of people around the world. http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135/4968685?m=e56504ed

Thank you for helping make their dreams come true!

Kari

Please help us finish strong!

2009-10-30T20:38:00.005-06:00

On October 7 Angel Covers entered the America's Giving Challenge and the support was overwhelming. In the past 3 weeks more than $7,300 has been raised. With a goal of $10,000 we are on track to meet this goal for sure.

In the next 6 days until this challenge is over, we need the support of everyone possible. A donation of just $10 will completely change a child's life. The $7,300 raised already has been done primarily because hundreds of people were willing to donate $10 and ask others to do the same.

The children of Angel Cottage will soon be moving into their new home. Because of so many generous people, they will have new beds, sheets, blankets, sewing machines, and a fenced play area. Because of so many of you, this house is quickly turning into a home for the 35 children who live there...not to mention the several who are already planning on moving in this January.

In these last 6 days of the challenge, let's not stop working toward out goal. The children of Angel Cottage are working every day to prove to themselves and the world they are capable of great things. Please join me in working with these children to show the world what amazing potential they have.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135/4968685?m=5c768c22&ref=mf

So very grateful,

Kari

Friday, October 30 at 1:00

2009-10-29T21:09:00.004-06:00

The next daily challenge starts Friday the 30th at 1:00. As I type this, I'm both excited about what we have accomplished and hopeful that we will reach our goal of raising $10,000. In the next 8 days, we have the opportunity to raise an additional $2,700 for the children of Humble Hearts; children like Yvonne.

Yvonne is in nursery class, is learning sign language and knows her letters and numbers. She loves to sing, dance, and is wonderful at crafts. Yvonne is very creative and loves to draw the traffic police and other things she sees on the street. Yvonne is always careful to be sure her hair is braided in beautiful straight lines because she believes girls should have long hair, so it makes sense that she's interested in pursuing a career in design.

The past 2 days, Denver has been very cold and snowy. With more than 20" of snow at my house, I've looked outside many time thinking about how lucky we are to be able to sit in a nice warm house, and have warm beds at the end of the day. And, I'm grateful beyond words that because of your generosity, the children of Angel Cottage will have new warm beds too.

As we all get ready for Halloween this year, please consider purchasing 1 less bag of candy, or one less wig and donation $10 instead. Throughout this challenge, we have asked a lot of our supporters. We've asked you not only to donate, but to ask others to do the same. Now I'm asking you be as grateful and I am for everything we have and all we have been able to accomplish, and as you do that please consider continuing the fight for the kids and their future. Every single person who has donated is changing the lives of these children.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135/4968685?m=e56504ed

Always grateful,

Kari

It's time for us to get fired up!

2009-10-27T20:09:00.007-06:00

The America's Giving Challenge has been going on for 3 weeks now, and I for one needed to take a little time off from it....and no doubt so did all of our supporters. Everyone who knows me well knows that it's not easy for me to ask for help, especially on a daily basis. I want the children of Humble Hearts and Angel Cottage to have every chance in this world, but I'd prefer that everyone just find our website and be moved to help without having to say much. This isn't a very good marketing plan, nor is it very realistic.

So, instead I'm going to ask all of you to start calling friends, family members, and neighbors. At the start of this challenge, we set a goal to raise $10,000 for the children of Angel Cottage. Right now we are more than 2/3's of the way to that goal! Truly amazing.

Beds are being ordered, a fence will soon be built, sewing machines and other materials will soon be purchased....all of these things will be done because of the generosity of so many of you. Because of all of you, these great kids will have their own beds, will have a safe place to play, will learn a skill, and will have a new and bigger space to learn.

Please, let's all get fired up and finish the last 10 days of this challenge by spreading the word about these kids, their needs, and most of all their potential. We are so close to our goal! I know we can do this if we all continue to work together.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135/4968685?m=e56504ed

Kari

Friday, October 23 at 1:00pm MST

2009-10-22T21:09:00.007-06:00

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 AT 1:00 MST

Joel and his mom came to Humble Hearts yesterday looking for a school for Joel. He is 4 years old, deaf, and lives with his mom who is barely able to afford her rent and food for the two of them. Because the new Angel Cottage is almost completed and so many people have come together to help us in the America's Giving Challenge, Joel's mother was told he could move into Angel Cottage in January and begin attending school.

During the past two weeks of the Giving Challenge, I've been talking about giving the children of Angel Cottage a home, and all of the things children deserve in their home...loving care-givers, their own beds, books, space to play. But, Joel has reminded me that this challenge is about so much more.

This challenge is all about giving these children a chance at a life that is completely different than they were born into. Because people around the world have come together to build Angel Cottage and put everything in it the children need, Joel will learn a language. Joel will learn math. He'll learn to read. Most importantly, Joel will learn he is capable. He'll start dreaming of a future that doesn't include wondering where his next meal is coming from or if his tin shack is going to leak during the rainy season.

Friday, October 23 at 1:00 starts the next daily challenge. Because of so many people, Angel Covers has won $500 in this challenge twice. Please help us this Friday by donating and asking others to do the same. This challenge isn't about beds and tables. It's about hope and dreams...it's about futures. http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=16135

Continuously grateful,

Kari

Angel Cottage is almost completed!

2009-10-21T21:21:00.006-06:00

Months ago we started selling bricks to raise money for the construction the new Angel Cottage. For just $10 per word, donors purchased the opportunity to have their names or a short message carved into the bricks of Angel Cottage. These names were going to be carved into the bricks in the dinning room so the children of Angel Cottage would always see their inspirational messages and names of those who want them to succeed.

I received word today that construction workers are ready to start carving bricks! This is wonderful news because it means construction is very close to being finished. Each and every donor will soon be getting a picture of his/her brick. The children who move into Angel Cottage on Nov. 1 will see these wonderful messages and names as soon as they walk into the dinning room, and will be inspired to reach for the stars.

Because of our amazing supporters through the Giving Challenge, $5,000 of the money raised to make this house a home will be going to Humble Hearts this week. This money will be used to purchase additional beds, wardrobes, sewing equipment to learn a trade, and tables. We will be working hard to be sure these items are at Angel Cottage as soon as the children move in. Because of all of you, very soon these children will not have to share a bed, and for the first time will have tables for dining and studying.

On Friday, October 23 at 1:00 MST Angel Covers will be working to win the $1,000 daily bonus. Please continue to spread the word about the Giving Challenge! The children of Angel Cottage have hope because of all of you. http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=16135

So very grateful,

Kari

Let's keep fighting for the kids!

2009-10-20T21:20:00.006-06:00

We have taken a couple of days off from talking about the Giving Challenge, but we are no less committed to providing for the deaf children of Humble Hearts. Since the challenge started almost 2 weeks ago, we have raised more than $6,700. Hundreds of people have donated to provide beds, tables, blackboards, desks, books, wardrobes, and other items all kids deserve to have in their home.

Children such as 11 year old Cynthia, who was born deaf and not allowed to attend school because her mother worked nights and slept during the day. She was allowed roam through the slums with no supervision and little food. When Cynthia first came to Humble Hearts at the age of 7, she not only began attending school, but she had a safe home for the first time in her life. For the first time, she knew she would be fed each and every day.

It's for kids like Cynthia that we took on the exhausting challenge. All of us know that working to spread the word about the daily challenges and finding new donors in order to move up in the overall challenge is not only exhausting, but also exciting, humbling, and completely overwhelming.

The children who live at Angel Covers face even bigger challenge each and every day. Please continue to spread the word about this challenge. Each and every one of us are able to take on the Giving Challenge and reduce the challenges faced by Cynthia and others.

http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=16135

So very grateful,

Kari

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

2009-10-17T22:08:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to thank you all so much for your help in the past 10 days! All of your support lead us to win 2nd place today and $500 for the kids of Angel Cottage. In the past 10 days, we have won $500 twice and raised more than $6,600!! With the matching donation, we have over $9,900!! This money will be used to purchase the following items....

A concrete "fence" for the enclosed play area...$4,840
10 New bunk beds, mattresses, sheets, blankets, and pillows....$3,000
One new stove....$1,600
Sewing machines and supplies...$250

Without everyone's help, the children of Angel Cottage would still not have a bed to themselves, they would not have a safe place to play, they would not be able to learn a trade like sewing, and the house mom's would have to cook on a tiny stove.

Everyone who donated and/or passed the information on to others helped us win $500 today. More than that, all of you helped the children of Angel Cottage win a life they could only dream of. You should all be so proud!!

Grateful beyond words,
Kari

1:00 MST on Saturday

2009-10-16T22:18:00.005-06:00

1:00 MST, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

Veronica needs your help. She is 9 years old and lost her hearing after being severely burned when she was 2. Her parents found Humble Hearts in 2005 and were thrilled. They never thought she would be able to attend school. Now she lives at Angel Cottage and is a wonderful student.

Please donate $10 by Saturday at 1:00 MST and help us win the daily award of $1,000. We are so close to first place! Your donation and this bonus will be matched by 50%, so it will help even more. We have raised more than $5,100 for these kids who never would have had a chance to learn and thrive without your help. Your donation will help Veronica and so many like her have the childhood we all want for our own children.

Just go to http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=16135 to donate $10 and pass this link on to as many people as possible. Call your friends, families and neighbors. I promise you I have. We are only 8 donations out of first place. I know that by working together we can make this happen for Veronica and her friends!!

Always grateful,

Kari

Friday, October 16 at 1:00pm MST

2009-10-15T21:17:00.005-06:00

Friday, October 16 at 1:00pm, MST

We need your help tomorrow! Angel Covers is going to try for the daily bonus from 1:00 MST on Friday to 1:00 MST on Saturday. In order to win the $1,000 bonus we need everyone to donate $10 and ask your friends and family to do the same. Just go to http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=16135&recruiter_id=4968685 and help us have the most donors on Saturday.

Every single dollar donated will be matched by 50%. Grace, Kennedy, Douglas, Cynthia, Jane, Peter, Christopher, Emily, Nelly, and Askin....these are just a few of the kids who live at Angel Cottage. These are just a few of the kids who would never have received an education without the help of people around the world. I believe with all my heart that these children have huge potential...the potential to change their lives and the lives of others. But in order to do that, they must have our help.

Please go to http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=16135&recruiter_id=4968685 and donate $10 tomorrow. And please, ask as many people as possible to do the same. We not only need to win this daily challenge, but we need to move up from 10th place overall to the top 7.

The America's Giving Challenge isn't over for another 3 weeks. It's going to take a lot of work and a lot of perseverance to win more daily challenges and finish in the top 7. But, I know that if we work together, we'll make this happen....for the kids.

Kari

Changing lives already

2009-10-14T12:13:00.005-06:00

In the week since the America's Giving Challenge started, Angel Covers supporters have donated more than $4,100. Amazing! Because all of these donations are being matched by 50%, more than $6,150 is available to the children living at Angel Cottage.

Christine now lives at Angel Cottage and attends Humble Hearts. She is 8 years old and lost her hearing after contracting meningitis at the age of 3. None of her family members know sign language, and she was placed in a school for hearing children because her single mother couldn't afford a special school. Christine is now sharing a bed with 2 other girls, has no play area, no electricity, and must bail water from the floor when it rains.

A new, much more spacious, Angel Cottage will be completed and ready for the children to move in on Nov. 1. It will have electricity, running water, plenty of room to run and play, and a large dining room. Because of your donations through this challenge, kids like Christine will have a safe, fenced in play area and will now have a bed all their own.

Please ask everyone you know to give just $10 to this challenge. Kids like Christine deserve to live in a safe, loving home with room to play and study. Tables, chairs, book shelves, blackboards, and desks are all still needed to give these kids the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Friday, Nov. 16 at 1pm MST we will be launching our next daily challenge attempt. If we have the most donations by 1pm MST on Saturday we will win another $1,000 for these kids. We must work together to get more and more people donating $10 in order to make these kids dreams come true. Please help! http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135

Grateful always.

Kari

2009-10-12T20:40:00.003-06:00

"It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act."-- His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, Fourteenth Dalai Lama, 1992

A friend sent me this quote today and I just love it. I've been told many times by many different people that they don't donate to Angel Covers because they feel like they wouldn't be able to give enough to make a difference. I certainly understand the concern, but I think the America's Giving Challenge is a perfect example of how every single dollar, every single donation, make a HUGE different.

In the past week, Angel Covers has been asking you to spread the world about this challenge and together we have raised more than $3,500. Most of this has been raised through $10 donations! $10...the cost of a pizza, going out to lunch with a friend, or some Halloween candy. This $3,500 is being matched by 50% and will then become $5,250. Through $10 donations, a new fence can be built so deaf children like Samson, Jane, Michael, Stephen, and so many others can have a safe outside area to play in. New beds will also be purchases so these children no longer have to sleep cramped with other children in their bed.

For the cost of a couple of cups of coffee, we are changing the lives of deaf children; letting them know that they deserve the same opportunities and living conditions our children have.

Angel Covers is working hard to win the next daily challenge of $1,000. It's a very tight race between 3 organizations right now and we are in 3rd place. Please, even if you have already donated $10, consider donating $10 and helping us change the world.

Truly, $10 is changing lives.

Grateful always.
Kari Fillmore

Reflections

2009-10-11T14:16:00.006-06:00

"No matter how insignificant what you do may seem, it is important that you do it." Gandhi

As soon as I read this quote this morning, I knew it stated perfectly what I have been feeling for the past several days. So many people have told me they don't feel like donating $10 to Angel Covers through America's Giving Challenge is enough. They either didn't donate because $10 just "isn't enough to help" or they donated much more. And yet, $10 alone is completely changing lives.

When I met Michael 4 years ago, he was 18 years old. He was living with this mother who was barely able to feed her 5 children. Michael had always dreamed of receiving an education, but being born deaf, his father dying when Michael was very young, and living in the slums of Nairobi always prevented this dream from materializing. Now Michael is 22 years old, lives at Angel Cottage, and attends the Humble Hearts school for the Deaf. He shares a twin bed with one other child, has very few personal belongings, and is one of the nicest "kids" I've ever met.

Donations of only $10 will change Michael's life and the lives of all of the children living at Angel Cottage in ways they can only dream of. A donation of $10 will help purchase a bed so this young man doesn't have to squeeze in a small twin bed with another children because no other beds are available. $10 will purchase food for Michael so he doesn't have to wonder where his next meal is coming from. $10 will buy him socks with no holes or a chair to sit in for dinner. $10 will buy him the opportunity to dream of a time when he graduates from secondary school, continue on to college, and stop wondering how he's going to support himself.

A $10 donation to the America's Giving Challenge will be matched by 50% and make even more dreams come true for Michael and others like him.

If you haven't donated to this challenge, please donate soon. We are going to work hard to win the daily challenge from 3pm eastern on Monday the 12th to 3pm eastern on Tuesday the 13th to win the $1,000 first prize or the $500 second prize so that your $10 donation will go even further. In order to do that, we need the highest number of individuals donating $10. Please ask every single person you know to donate to change Michael's life. Every single person who donates $10 helps us move closer to the goal of providing these children with the home they will never have otherwise. This challenge isn't about raising the most money; it's about the greatest number of people coming together to meet a need.

No matter how insignificant $10 may seem, it is important that you donate and ask others to do the same. All of us coming together can truly change the world.

https://www.causes.com/fb/donations/new?cause_id=16135

Grateful always,

Kari

America's Giving Challenge

2009-10-08T22:34:00.008-06:00

Yesterday the America's Giving Challenge began and the response has been overwhelming. In the first 24 hours, our supporters have come together and donated more than $2,000. Because so many different people donate, Angel Covers also received a $500 bonus donation from Giving Works. To say we are grateful would be an understatement!!

Throughout the evening, I keep thinking of the hundreds of people coming together to help 35 kids in Kenya. Sure, in a couple of short months, additional kids will come to Angel Cottage and learn how wonderful the staff and kids are. They will move in, begin going to school (many for the first time ever), and discover they have capabilities they were never encouraged to discover. Kids like Jane, who was raped and thrown out to live on the streets. She recently moved into Angel Cottage and is now learning that having HIV doesn't limit your abilities or your potential. But even after Angel Cottage is full, hundreds of you around the world will have come together to help 80 children. What a beautiful message that sends to these kids!

Please continue to spread the word about the America's Giving Challenge. This challenge doesn't end until Nov. 6 and we are again close to winning at least $500 tomorrow. Remember, the cause with the most individuals donating to their cause will win daily challenges as well as the overall challenge. That means that 4 individuals donating $10 each ranks us higher than one person donating $50. For most of us $10 is lunch out with friends, a cheap pizza for dinner, or a couple extras at the grocery store. During this challenge, $10 will completely change Jane's life and the lives of so many others like her.

Please go to our website, http://www.angelcovers.org/ and click on the blue America's Giving Challenge box in the middle of the page. Pass this link to as many individuals as you can. What a powerful picture it is to think about hundreds of us coming together to show these kids how special they are and how much potential they have.

Kari

2009-10-07T15:07:00.004-06:00

I'm excited to announce that Angel Covers has joined the Facebook Giving Challenge. The Giving Challenge runs from Oct. 7 to Nov. 6 and tracks individual donations of $10 or more to Facebook causes and give a $500 and $1,000 bonus each day to the cause who has the most individual donors. At the end of the Challenge, the cause with the most individual donations (regardless of the dollar amount raised) will be given a $50,000 bonus, with additional bonuses for the 2nd - 7th place causes.

Angel Covers is building a home in Nairobi, Kenya for deaf and orphaned children. This home, Angel Cottage, will be completed and ready for the children to move in on Nov. 1. The current Angel Cottage is grossly overcrowded, has no electricity, one bathroom, and serious flooding problems. The new Angel Cottage will provide the children with enough room to run and play, as well as electricity and running water. But in order to make this new house a home, we need your help.

Currently the 35 children living at Angel Cottage are sleeping 2-3 to a bed, have to climb over beds and children just to get to their bed, are living in a building made of tin, and have no tables for meals. We would like to make the new Angel Cottage not only more spacious, but the home our children have. We want each and every child to have his/her own bed. We want them to have tables where they can eat and do homework, showers rather than sponge baths out of rubber tubs, lots of flushing toilets rather than 1, and a fenced in play area. We would like these children to have bookshelves and books to fill them, wardrobes for their clothes, and the materials necessary to learn a trade such as sewing.

Please help us give these beautiful children all of the things our children already have; a safe, healthy, comfortable place to learn and grow. All of the proceeds from the Giving Challenge will provide the deaf children of Angel Cottage with these items. A very generous donor will also provide a 50% match to each and every donation that comes in for this need up to $5,000. Please help us achieve our goal of raising $10,000 or more for these kids!

Throughout the next month, lots of pictures and stories about these amazing children will be posted. You will have the privilege to get to know them like I do. These are children who have the potential to do great things. They can truly change the world. Please, help us change their world! Make a donation through this link http://www.causes.com/causes/16135 of just $10 and ask your friends and family to do the same. If you don't already have a Facebook account you'll need to set one up, but isn't it worth it for these children? Every single person can make a difference. Please help us today!

Thankful everyday for all we have,

Kari

My trip to Kenya

2009-09-29T08:52:00.006-06:00

For those of you who followed my blogs while I was in Kenya, I have written a report on my trip, and I'm sure I left some things out. There was just so much to tell! But, feel free to read it at this link.

http://www.angelcovers.org/HumbleHeartsReport09.pdf

Since returning home, we have learned that the remaining Angel Cottage construction is fully funded. WHOOOHOOO!!! Thanks to the Vista Hermosa Foundation for this grant! We have a goal of Nov. 1 for the move in date and Beatrice is working really hard to make this happen.

Now for more good news! The kids of Angel Cottage are currently sleeping 2-3 to a bed as you all know. All of the furniture from the current home will be moved into the new home. However, there are lots of other things that are needed....more beds, tables for the dinning room, a concrete wall to provide a safe play area, etc. None of these items were included in the construction budget. But, a very generous couple has offered a matching donation for these items. For every dollar we can raise between now and Dec. 31 they will donate $.50 up to $5,000. Therefore, if we raise $10,000 for all the items needed at Angel Cottage they will donate $5,000. $15,000 will go a LONG way to buying all the things needed to truly make this a home.

Many of you do so much for these kids already. But, if there is any way you are able to help with this it would be so appreciated. Beatrice and I are putting together a complete list of items needed and their costs. I will have that posted soon. Please let all your friends and family know about these needs and the matching money.

Also, we have just put new holiday cards on the website. Profits from the sale of these cards will be matched as well, so please check them out and pass the link on. http://www.angelcovers.org/holidaycards.html I'm taking pre-orders right now and will start mailing cards as soon as they arrive to me on Oct. 7.

Thank you for all your support of Angel Covers and especially the kids of Angel Cottage and Humble Hearts. I've seen first hand how your changing lives.

Kari

The last day in Kenya....

2009-09-15T00:07:00.004-06:00

...is always completely crazy. The list of things we have to do is very long, including taking more pictures of sponsored kids, the lunch program, going to the bank, buying more de-worming medicine and completing physicals on kids who just arrived yesterday.

Yesterday was also full of tying up loose ends. We prioritized kids who need sponsors, labeled hundreds of pictures, visited the Dagoretti School, organized, planned, and generally ran around like we were running out of time. Yesterday all of the children of HH also received eye exams and were tested for color blindness. Edward, one of the deaf boys who has also lost eye sight in one eye seems to be color blind. Poor kid! I wonder how many more obstacles he's going to have to overcome. The good news is that this week he's been wearing his glasses, but really he's only wearing them because I'm here. He is so worried about breaking them normally, that he's afraid to wear them. No amount of talking can convince him that I know he's careful and it's ok to wear them all year. I'll try again today though.

As soon as possible, I'll be writing a much more detailed report of everything we have done and found. We are all shocked that only a few kids are in need of glasses, that more aren't sick, and that only about 6 preschool kids need to be de-wormed. We assumed the numbers of kids who needed help medically would be much higher given the circumstances. Much of this week has been focused on medical issues. We are so glad to be able to have a nurse with us to talk to the girls with epilepsy and migraines about their medication. Both started taking their medications after learning how it would help and the best way to take it in order to avoid side effects. That alone has made the trip worthwhile.

The rest of this week after I return home will be full of organizing pictures, returning emails, and writing reports. Thanks to everyone who has emailed and who supports this school! You are all the greatest!

I missed a few days

2009-09-13T09:50:00.003-06:00

It's hard to believe it's Monday already and I haven't written since Friday. Between the rolling black-outs, our schedule, and nothing opening until 2:00 on Sunday's, it's been very hard to email. Kenya is going through a severe drought right now. Because of that, electricity is in great shortage. Kenya uses a lot of hydro power to generate electricity. Without water, there is no electricity. So, most days part of the city is dark for some time. At our hotel, there is no electricity from 7am to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Friday we were able to take the high school kids to the Angel Cottage construction and paint. Everyone worked so hard! We were able to paint 9 HUGE rooms, 2 hallways, and the toilet rooms. This is just the base coat and the next time these rooms are painted, they will be a calm, cool color the children will enjoy for many years. Additionally, today the dining room walls be start being smoothed and prepared for names on the bricks to be added. This has been a long time coming, but soon all of you who bought a brick will have your name permanently in the dining room for the kids to see for years to come.

While kids were painting, final decisions were made in order to start a tailoring school for the deaf girls. These girls will be learning to sew, will take in jobs and have income for themselves and Angel Cottage. 15% of the income from this program will go into savings accounts for these girls to use for college, starting their own business, or getting an apartment. 45% will be used to purchase materials and other needs to sustain the program, and 40% of the income will be used to support the kids at the cottage through food purchases, electricity, water, etc. At the same time, the boys will be taught carpentry and the same percentages will apply. These are exciting programs that will not only teach the children valuable skills, but will continue to make Angel Cottage a self-sufficient home.

Saturday was spent doing a little sightseeing and relaxing a little more. Sunday, we were able to go to the market, and spent the evening testing the eye sight of the children living at Angel Cottage. Fortunately, only one seems to need glasses right away. We will also be testing all of the kids at HH today for both near and far sightedness, but also for colorblindness. This is quite the undertaking, but one we know is greatly needed.

Today I will also be visiting the Dagoretti School, were we have been able to start a chicken program in the past. This program is currently the only source of consistent income for this school, and therefore vital to its survival. I'm excited to see how it's changing the lives of these 500 children.

It's going to be a full 2 days until we leave for the US tomorrow evening. As always, there is so much more to tell and never enough time. Know that all your support is completely changing the lives of these children!

Kari

Thursday in Kenya

2009-09-11T00:02:00.003-06:00

After looking quickly through my last 2 posts, I'm come to realize just how little I'm able to tell you about what we are doing. Posting about Thursday will be no different. We started the day by taking 150 of the oldest kids to the top of the tallest building in downtown Nairobi. From there you can see all of the major landmarks, but it was too dusty to see Mt. Kenya unfortunately. We arraigned to have sodas brought all the way up for each of the kids and they truly loved seeing the city from a bird's perspective, not to mention sitting on the helipad. Thanks Chris and Lynn for supporting this!

After sending the kids back to school on the very crowded buses, we headed to the textbook center to buy more books. This is something I look forward to each year and this year we were able to buy $250 worth of next books for the Form 4 classes (12th grade), which will be starting in January. So many things are still needed for these kids, but having books is a great start.

The children also had sports day for more than 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon. Normally on Friday's, sports day involved all of the 300 children going to a field for games such as musical chairs, balloon popping, soccer, and races. All of the 300 kids wore their new shirts for sports day and it was certainly an amazing sight to see.

Seeing the joy on these kids faces all day long was a huge blessing. Below is a picture I toke on Wednesday, and certainly there are hundreds more. Unfortunately the electricity has already gone out once, so this is all I'll be able to post today. I'll do my best to post more before I leave for home.

Kari

What a day!

2009-09-09T09:30:00.003-06:00

Having just returned from Humble Hearts today, I hardly know where to start. So much was accomplished today! Physicals were completed for all of the children, the donations were unpacked, desks were painted, food was bought, some pictures were taken of sponsored kids...not to mention the other dozens and dozens of pictures that were taken of all the activities.

The truly amazing thing today is that most of the kids seem completely healthy. It's so hard for us to believe given the conditions here, but the lunch program especially has made an enormous difference in the lives of these children. Dozens have at least one cavity. Sadly, dental care is extremely expensive here, so most people never have even had their teeth cleaned. We passed out more than 100 toothbrushes and more than 220 tubes of toothpaste today, so hopefully that will help some. As all of the data is accumulated, sponsors will receive the results of their child's physical. A few heart murmurs were detected, one child is clearly having migraines, and other has epilepsy.

The group of volunteers who are here are truly unbelievable. More has been accomplished in 2 days that I ever thought would. Tomorrow we are taking the morning to take 150 children to the top of the tallest building in Nairobi. From there they will be able to see all of the major landmarks, and if it's clear we'll be able to see Mt. Kenya.

Thanks to all who have supported this trip. I promise much more information soon! There's just so much happening each day.

Kari

Kenya Day ????

2009-09-08T22:53:00.002-06:00

Any of you who have traveled internationally know that it's difficult to even remember what day is is sometimes. I arrived in Kenya on Monday evening and spent yesterday at the Humble Hearts school. I'm fairly sure that makes today Wednesday morning, but I wouldn't bet on it. :-)

Yesterday was spend exchanging money, visiting kids at Humble Hearts, passing out t-shirts (and they look great!) and have a ceremony for the children who preformed at the national competition in Mumbasa. There are 3 volunteers here with me, and they have long list of jobs they have started too. You know you week is packed when conversations on day 1involve how to get everything done this week.

Jill, a nurse, spent hours yesterday giving the children physicals and making health records for each of them. She has a long way to go, but just knowing that each child is getting checked for ringworm, having his/her eyes checked, and general health evaluated is a huge blessing.

Ivan has spent the last 2 days recording new biographical information for each of the unsponsored kids and taking their pictures. This is also a huge job because there are more than 200 unsponsored kids! Byron and I spent time sorting donations and today he will work on building new desks...a much needed item.

It has been great to see the new concrete floors in all the classrooms, and the addition of a class 7 room, making it easier for these children to learn.

Angel Cottage continues to be grossly over-crowded. Friday we will go to the new construction site and paint, but I can't help but wonder when it will finally be done and the children living at Angel Cottage can move into this new and beautiful home. They are simply crammed into living conditions that no one should love in. I realize that in many ways it's better than what they would have if they lived elsewhere, but that doesn't make it right. This home must be completed soon. They deserve room to run, a bed of their own, running water and electricity.

There is so much more to tell even after just one day here, but I'll save some for later. I'm hoping to be able to post pictures this week, as the new broadband system makes the internet connection much faster than it used to be, but we'll see.

Thanks to all of you for your support of HH. Every time I come, it's obvious to me what a huge difference your support is making for these children.
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