Messages of Hope | Spring 2014

Spring 20 14

“And whoever receives one child such as this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:5)

An Angels Of Hope Update

A Journey Filled with Joy

Food For The Poor staff member cherishes watching her sponsored children grow up

Alice Marino has a folder filled with handmade cards like the ones above that she cherishes. The cards and also letters are from Vladimir and Kendy, the two children in Haiti she sponsors through Angels Of Hope. Alice, the media marketing director for Food For The Poor, jumped at the chance to sponsor children when the program was first started more than 10 years ago.

“I fell in love with the idea of sponsoring children right away. I sponsored six children before I sponsored Vladimir and Kendy. I love children and wanted to make a difference,” she said.

Vladimir was only 11 years old when Alice first became his sponsor. Later, she discovered he had a younger brother named Kendy and sponsored him as well. The boys consider Alice their godmother.

“I have seen how happy the children are to have a godmother who cares for them. They feel special and loved. I’m very proud of all the efforts they have made,” she said.

Today Vladimir is 18 and Kendy is 17. Both received scholarships to the Centre de Formation Technique et Professionnelle college in Haiti. Vladimir is studying Accounting and Kendy is interested in Construction Engineering. Just as they have been helped, the boys want to be able to help others in need.

Alice gets tremendous satisfaction from seeing the boys growing up to become responsible young adults. “I get so much in return every time I get a letter and see how appreciative they are of the help they are getting, and I see how much it means to them. I get so much more out of them than I can ever give,” she said.

She encourages others to become sponsors as well. “You get so much more out of it than you give,” Alice said. “It’s such a simple thing to do and is so fulfilling.” ❋

“I thank you so much… my success is because of you.”

Vladimir and Kendy

From a note that Vladimir, Alice’s sponsored child, sent to her.

Office Depot Foundation provides school supplies to Angels Of Hope homes

Ahhh… the first day of school. Children arrive with their new school supplies eager to make new friends, meet new teachers, and learn new subjects. For many children in developing countries however, paper and pencils are an unaffordable luxury, let alone a backpack. If they are lucky enough to own a notebook or a pencil, many poor students will carry their supplies to and from school in a plastic bag or a piece of cloth—whatever they can find to protect their valuable learning tools.

But thanks to the kindness and generosity of the Office Depot Foundation, to date, Food For The Poor has been able to deliver 9,000 “sackpacks” filled with school supplies to children in Angels Of Hope homes across nine countries.

For many children in the Angels Of Hope program, going to school is something they never thought was possible. The majority of children in Angels Of Hope homes have never had the opportunity to regularly attend school prior to coming to orphanages, let alone have their own school supplies.

The donated sackpacks the Office Depot Foundation provides are great gifts for eager students, because they also provide something else that is necessary for children to learn and to grow: hope. What a blessing for these precious children as they pursue their dreams through the power of education. ❋ Smiling children excitedly tote their “sackpacks” of basic school supplies provided by the Office Depot Foundation.

Helping orphans overcome difficult pasts

Yolanda, 13, says the sewing workshop has motivated her to go to college and become a professional.

Confident and resilient, 13-year-old Yolanda has faced challenges no child should have to bear.

Not long ago, she returned home to find her uncle and caregiver murdered, presumably by gang members. After that terrible ordeal, she was bounced from one government orphanage to the next.

But Yolanda has found hope for her future in a sewing workshop generous donors like you have provided. Thanks to you, the children of Ciudad de Niños home in La Libertad, El Salvador, are developing a skill that will help them earn an income one day and overcome difficult pasts.

“This is a great blessing for us,” said Mary Gonzalez, director of the orphanage. “It will serve them and it will serve the home.”

The children are learning how to make aprons, beach dresses, school uniforms and swimsuits; items they plan to sell throughout their touristy seaside

town. Eventually, students will make and sell school uniforms, with the goal of earning money to help support Ciudad de Niños.

Yolanda practices her sewing as much as she can. She knows this is an opportunity to learn skills and develop traits that will help her, regardless of what career she enters.

Yolanda said she doesn’t have much clothing, so she wants to sew outfits with her own personal style.

“You’re going to be a fashion designer,” said a Food For The Poor team member.

“Of course!” Yolanda answered.

“I want to make swimsuits, dresses and pants,” Yolanda said. She didn’t bat an eye when asked whether swimsuits are difficult to stitch. “Look at our machines!” Yolanda said. “They have different levels. You can do that on these machines.”

Before learning how to sew, Yolanda says she had expected to survive through stealing and other dangerous activities. The sewing workshop has opened her eyes to new and rewarding possibilities.

“I’m 13 years old… God willing, I will start high school,” Yolanda said with gusto. “I’m going to finish high school and I’m going to finish college. I’m going to be a professional, but it’s good to have a vocational skill like this.”

Thanks to your love and generosity, Yolanda will reach her dreams.

“I don’t have any support from my family, but I have even better support from (the orphanage), so I know I’m going to do it,” Yolanda said. ❋

Yolanda and the girls of Ciudad de Niños home in La Libertad, El Salvador, show off the aprons they made on their new sewing machines.

“In this life, you can’t expect anyone to take care of you. You have to take care of yourself,” Yolanda said.

A Day Of Celebration

They’re celebrating childhood, they’re celebrating love, and they’re celebrating life!

On the Day Of Celebration, kids have a blast just being kids. They play group games, sing along to special programs, stuff themselves with delicious treats, and get their faces painted with new friends.

Many of these orphans suffered neglect and heartbreak before they found a loving family in an Angels Of Hope home. The Day Of Celebration is a chance for them to embrace a future filled with hope, and the carefree childhood they deserve.

“They celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.” (Psalm 145:7, niv)

Dr aw i ng C ontes t

Each Day Of Celebration is a country-wide event. Angels Of Hope children from homes far and near come together to enjoy a day celebrating and having fun. Just in the past six months, children have had fun-filled days in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Because of your support, it’s not just one day, but an entire lifetime these children have to celebrate. Today they’re giggling in the bouncehouse castle and enjoying the Ferris wheel, but tomorrow they’ll be on their way to a better future. That’s worth celebrating! ❋

It’s time again for children from Angels Of Hope homes to show off their artistic talents in the 2014 Angels Of Hope Drawing Contest! This year the children will turn their markers, crayons, and pencils toward the natural world as they draw God’s Creation. Junior Division artists are drawing “Plants and Flowers,” and the Senior Division children are drawing God’s creatures in the “Animals” category.

As always, we invite you to take part in the contest. Beginning July 8, visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/aohcontest to see the children’s creative work and vote for your favorite!

“ And whoever receives one child such as this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:5)

Being an Angels Of Hope sponsor has been such an incredible journey for me and the children I have sponsored. I started sponsoring a Haitian boy named Vladimir because I wanted to make a difference and have a positive impact on a poor child’s life.

When I found out Vladimir had a younger brother, I began sponsoring Kendy as well.

Over the years that I have been their angel, I have exchanged letters and cards with Vladimir and Kendy, and I have seen them grow from young boys to young men who are now in college. I’m so proud of them and their amazing accomplishments, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of their lives and help them achieve their dreams. Being an Angels Of Hope sponsor made all this possible.

Our Angels Of Hope program is extremely important to orphaned, abandoned or neglected children who have so much promise. By reaching out to these children, you are giving them the nurturing, loving care all children need to be successful and thrive. You are there with them on their journey toward a happy, Christ-centered life. It is one of the greatest joys I have experienced and one of the most fulfilling.

Children in our Angels Of Hope program have enormous potential that you and I have the power to develop and encourage.

Thank you for sharing Christ’s love with children in need. I'm sure you have found that being a sponsor and watching a child flourish and grow can be one of life’s greatest rewards.

Love and blessings,

Alice Marino Director of Media Marketing