Thursday, October 25, 2007

In Closing

Looking back over the past few weeks, I am so incredibly happy to have found ARCHWAY and been lucky enough to have been there the same time as Sue. The organization is amazing and the work they are doing is so very needed.

Now that I am back in the States, it has been time to start brainstorming on fundraising ideas. The entire ARCHWAY operation is run 100% on private funds. (Well, actually no, the government provides $10 per month per child, so $190 total per month. You can imagine how far that goes...)

To provide some history, for several years McDonald’s had provided ARCHWAY with grants to run the orphanage and the street programs. These grants came about after Sue was kicked out of several Bucharest area McDonald’s when she tried to bring some of the street children in with her to buy them food. She was appalled and wrote to McDonald’s to tell them about her experiences along with pictures of the children sitting out in front of the restaurants in the snow eating their food.

Fortunately McDonald’s responded positively by providing grant money, but sadly those grants are no longer coming through. That has left a severe gap in ARCHWAY’s finances, and it has become increasingly difficult for them to stay afloat.

In speaking with Sue, lack of finances has become a real concern, with the possibility that they will not be able to continue their operations there.

To keep the orphanage running, this past summer Sue sold her personal apartment in Bucharest. During my time volunteering this month, I stayed in a guest room at the orphanage, while she slept across the hall on a couch in the office.

Last week in Bucharest, it seemed like every time the topic of ARCHWAY’s diminishing finances came up we would always come back to the fact that so many people are generous and do want to give to a great cause. I can say with absolute certainty that this is in fact a tremendous cause.

If anyone is considering making a charitable donation personally or through a corporation, I ask that you please consider ARCHWAY. Donations can be made via paypal on their website or by mailing a check. See the link below.

Thanks!

http://www.archwaykids.org/Donations.htm


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http://picasaweb.google.com/chassan/BucharestOctober2007

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