Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day
Happy Mother's Day to all…especially to my wonderful mom, whose love and guidance have always been my lighthouse.
I realize it's early in my stay here at Cura to start pushing for donations, but It seemed hard to not write on this Mother's Day, at a place where by definition, there are no mothers. No fathers either.
Amidst the occasional bursts of laughter from the field, it's easy to forget that's why they're all here. Forty million orphans in Africa - fifty of them here.
There is an uncompromising sadness about that thought - literally a generation and continent of children, raised without parents. If there is a blessing here, and one learns to spot them, it is that these fifty are cared for behind these walls and fences - there is a list far too long of children wanting to be admitted.
Even these humble confines, however, come with a price. Each child depends on the charity of someone that they will likely never meet to allow them to stay here. It costs $725 (tax deductible) each year to take care of each of these children - a number which is probably low based on increasing costs. The children who are currently not sponsored are noted elsewhere on this site - the link for sponsorship is available there as well. For most of us, after taxes, that's probably less than fifty dollars a month to keep a roof over Grace's head. To put three meals a day in Simon's belly. To give them all a chance to have a better tomorrow.
But you don't need to do it on your own -- if you are moved by these stories, these images, pull together a group of friends, your co-workers, your parole officers, your book-club members, your fantasy football league - band together to get behind one of these children.
Please help me find a way to keep these kids cared for and safe.
As you wish your own mothers a "happy mother's day," please give thought to these little ones for whom that is not an option.
Sunday, May 8, 2011