For the past month or so, I have been focusing my charity crafting on the poorest of the great nation that we call the United States of America.
Can you even imagine an 80% unemployment rate? Living well below the poverty level, are a whole lot of elderly people and children. Plagued by low morale and illnesses, very cold weather (they had 12" of snow in late May!), and with no hope for improvements, those people need help.
One of the projects to assist them is the Okini program. A heartbreaking list of DIRE needs is available online and you can choose to send them food, diapers, clothing, and money. You can sponsor a family on a regular basis, or just participate when you are able to spare a little something. When you look at the list, you will notice that they are asking for very basic items. This is a world where life is so different. There, going to the store for groceries is an agonizing moment where every penny is counted, obtaining a barely used pair of pants or a blanket without holes is a special treat, and having some propane to warm their poorly insulated home when it's -20F is a blessing. If you read their stories, be sure to have a box of tissues near you.
If you are moved to help, the list can be found here. It is updated frequently so you can see at a glance what is needed.
While I have sent some diapers, wipes, and a few other things, I have also started a box of nutritious non-perishable foods. By buying a few additional groceries every week, it is easy to quickly fill a box. I have also been knitting and sewing to fill a box of clothes for this Summer. Here's one of my latest outfits. It is done in knit fabrics so it should be comfy. I have found some wonderful stretch fabrics that can be for a boy or a girl. My "adopted" family has 4 children under the age of five, and I hope that they will like those. I will have more photos later on.
Can you even imagine an 80% unemployment rate? Living well below the poverty level, are a whole lot of elderly people and children. Plagued by low morale and illnesses, very cold weather (they had 12" of snow in late May!), and with no hope for improvements, those people need help.
One of the projects to assist them is the Okini program. A heartbreaking list of DIRE needs is available online and you can choose to send them food, diapers, clothing, and money. You can sponsor a family on a regular basis, or just participate when you are able to spare a little something. When you look at the list, you will notice that they are asking for very basic items. This is a world where life is so different. There, going to the store for groceries is an agonizing moment where every penny is counted, obtaining a barely used pair of pants or a blanket without holes is a special treat, and having some propane to warm their poorly insulated home when it's -20F is a blessing. If you read their stories, be sure to have a box of tissues near you.
If you are moved to help, the list can be found here. It is updated frequently so you can see at a glance what is needed.
While I have sent some diapers, wipes, and a few other things, I have also started a box of nutritious non-perishable foods. By buying a few additional groceries every week, it is easy to quickly fill a box. I have also been knitting and sewing to fill a box of clothes for this Summer. Here's one of my latest outfits. It is done in knit fabrics so it should be comfy. I have found some wonderful stretch fabrics that can be for a boy or a girl. My "adopted" family has 4 children under the age of five, and I hope that they will like those. I will have more photos later on.