First and foremost, this is the last call for the March medical trip which is currently scheduled for March 15-27. At the moment we have no one going on the trip so unless I hear by January 27 from those who are interested the trip will be cancelled.
The COIN (Children of Impoverished Nations) group at Holmdel High school (HHS) is doing a GREAT job selling product and chicken cookies. They have raised in excess of $1,000 and are going strong. HHS is also doing their third Band Aid for Uganda (can't call it Battle of the Bands!) ... thanks to Beth Ruda and her son.
The Starbucks clothing drive starts April 16 that runs through June 10. It is amazing how wonderful this has been because it has generated over $15,000 in the last 1½ years. The stores in Marilyn Hatcher's district were gracious enough to give us the little trees from their Christmas promotion and we will take them with us for this year's Christmas party.
The most exciting news? We will have a video within two weeks. I met with Doug MacCauley today who undertook the humongous task of going through all the video shot by our three college videographers who went with us in 2010 and worked with him on a final cut. Using the existing footage, and Michele's wonderful video footage from the Christmas trip, he has assembled a very good DVD about the school. Can't wait for you all to see it!
The teachers have returned back to school and are preparing for the January 30 opening. As you know the school works on a calendar year as opposed to our September to June calendar.
Before we start work on the clinic (for which we have the money) we need $29,300 for solar. Anyone know of someone who wants to donate that? We can get the work done in Uganda and, with solar, we are assured that our clinic equipment will always be able to work.
Here is a GREAT fundraising opportunity. Doug's wife, Rachel, is an independent chocolatier. And what does that mean? She does DOVE chocolate parties and she does it as a fundraiser! Would any of you like to have a chocolate fundraising party? Let me know and I will get you in touch with Rachel... what a great idea for Valentine's Day!
And, lastly, we always need sponsors for our children. We now have 40 of our orphans attending Secondary School, with three of them in S-4 meaning they will graduate this year and be eligible to continue on to S-5 and 6. They are the future of the country. If you want to sponsor a child just go to our website .... www.sylviaschildren.org ... and click on the donate-now button. We have made it easy for you!
Thanks for caring about these children and about the school.
Sylvia Allen
732-946-2711
