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| Antigua, Guatemala |
We're Getting Ready!
I'm heading back to Guatemala on 18 October. This time, my husband, Bruce, will be joining Wheelchairs for Kids International. Bruce has worked with parents and children with disabilities before. We ran a support group many years ago for parents with children with disabilities, and he was a Special Olympics coach for several sports prior to being deployed to Iraq. I'm excited to share photos and videos!! I know he will love Guatemala and meeting and working with the children and their families.
Packing to Go..
I began by asking our friends in Guatemala what they needed. The list was short-- reading glasses, blood pressure monitors, a laptop computer for a local school, and canes for the blind. We always take toys for the children, however, this time we're also bringing kids toothbrushes and toothpaste. We are partnering with Hope Haven Guatemala again and they have been expanding their operation to include a medical and dental clinic. I know our contributions will be appreciated.
I also bought a mosquito net and lots of bug repellant. This time I'm prepared!! Bug bites don't really bother me too much but I do worry about Dengue fever..
Our Plans..
We extended our trip to include a few days to visit with some of the children who received our pediatric wheelchairs in March. I was hoping to visit with little Juan, however, I just received news that his mother has taken him out of the malnutrition clinic. I have asked some friends from the region where he lives to help me find him. Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him. I don't expect that we will do a lot of sightseeing on this trip. It would be a pleasant surprise if we did. I have heard we are taking the children to the zoo so that will be lots of fun. I'm taking my laptop and projector with me. I was thinking about having a movie night and showing some cartoon movies (in Spanish)-- the kiddies would love it!
We are also looking forward to seeing Mark & Matt Richard, Ilse Caballeros, Yulia, Blanka, Josue, Dr. William Sosa, Dick Rutgers, Rita & Geoff Doppenberg & everyone at Hope Haven Guatemala! It will be a grand reunion!
Donations Are Always Appreciated!
Thanks to all the generous people who donated funds for the wheelchairs for this trip! We can't do it without your support! A special thanks goes to all the children and helpers in Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Grapevine, TX! They all worked hard to raise $1402.29 for pediatric wheelchairs and they made some beautiful blankets for the children!We're already half way to our next small distribution due to a fundraiser conducted by our new 2014-2015 Child Champion, Timothy Donovan. Timothy has raised $5,726 and his goal was $3,600! He wanted to raise enough to purchase 12 wheelchairs for his 12th birthday that was in September. He raised enough to fund 19 wheelchairs! Thanks Timothy!
Your Support is Needed & Appreciated!
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| Brad Blauser with Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) |
The last few months we have been busy trying to educate people about our important work and working to get more volunteers involved. Please e-mail me at Isabel.Hodge@KidChairs4Life.org if you would like to volunteer! We need volunteers to help with social media, web development, marketing and fundraising!
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Donations change the lives of children with disabilities all over the world. If 100 people donate just $20 each then 6-8 children will receive wheelchairs. Please visit Wheelchairs for Kids International and learn how you can make a difference; help a child go to school; play with their friends, and just be kids..
Visit: http://kidchairs4life.org/WFKIDonate.html
