Simple Ways to Raise Money

Sarah and I have decided that it's time to clean out our house and get rid of stuff we don't need. Need is, of course, a relative term I realize, nevertheless...

It turns out that some of the things we've decided to jettison are actually of some value. So far, we've made around $585 and we're not finished. Not bad. The money we raise is going to help fund our trip to Sovietsk Orphanage this year. We got this idea a couple of years ago from my brother, Dan, who was working at the time as the development director for Children's HopeChest. The campaign was pretty effective and it didn't really cost people anything other than some stuff they forgot they owned.

If you're interested in supporting the work of Children's HopeChest at Sovietsk Orphanage, then I would encourage you to take a look at doing the same thing in your house. You might be surprised. Let us know if you're planning to join us and we'll let you know how to make a tax-deductible donation.

Keep Current!

We had a great meeting today brainstorming ways we can support the children of Sovietsk. It's been challenging to find funds for Russia during these economic times, with so much going on around the world. Over the next few months, we'll have some fun opportunities to chip in and make a big difference with a little effort. Please visit often to keep current! And, we started a group on Facebook, called Sovietsk Supporters. There are so many of you who don't know each other, we thought it could be fun to put all of our heads together. Please join and invite your friends! As always, we are thankful for each of you!

Above are our Russian friends who mean the world to our kids, and to us.

Happy Women's Day!

Happy Women's Day to all of you! International Women's Day is celebrated every year on the 8th of March. Its origins date to the early 20th century with the Socialist Party in the United States. Before long, the holiday spread across the world, especially to the countries of the Soviet Union.

Women's Day is still celebrated to this day, in Russia and elsewhere. The holiday in Russia looks something like a cross between Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. But the point of Women's Day is to celebrate the many important contributions of women.

Beyond Russia, Women's Day is commemorated by organizations such as CARE, The Red Cross, and the United Nations as an opportunity to raise awareness and to uphold the rights of women. The meaning of International Women's Day is summarized well by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon:

"Gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all... But equality for women and girls is also an economic and social imperative. Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals -- peace, security, sustainable development -- stand in jeopardy."

I'm thankful for all of the strong, intelligent women in my life. I want to especially extend my gratitude to Galina, the director of Sovietsk Orphanage. She is an exceptional woman who works very hard to help make a better life for the kids at the orphanage.