HAND IN HAND FOR CHILDREN OF CHERNOBYL

Paperwork has begun for Hand in Hand for Children of Chernobyl to bring children for a medical recuperation during the summer of 2012. Routinely the children arrive in mid to late June and return home to Belarus in mid August. Their stay usually lasts seven to eight weeks. During that time the children have a medical, dental and eye exam and simply enjoy fresh air and learning about life in America. During the annual trip to Belarus in March, new children will be selected and matched with their host family. We would love to see more families from First Presbyterian Church become part of the program by hosting a child. If you find a calling in this direction, or know of another family who may wish to learn more, please let us know. An informational meeting will be held in January. Our children become very much a part of your family and their families at home become an extension of yours also.

The facilities that Hand in Hand for Children of Chernobyl has been helping to support have received monthly aid packages from our organization. We send them through the regular mail and they arrive in approximately three to four weeks. By sending boxes to families in the villages to deliver for us, we found it saves the facilities from having to pay a tax in order to pick the goods up at the post office. Everything we send is used. Nothing seems to be wasted. If there is a certain medical supply item they are questioning how to use, it is put aside until I arrive and then out it comes for a quick lesson. A letter was received this month from the parents who are educating their disabled children. They have asked if we can possibly find some handiwork supplies for the girls. For example aida cloth, embroidery floss, stamped cross stitch items, needlepoint, yarn, crochet and knitting needles, glue and glitter. If you are cleaning out cabinets during the holidays and come across any of these items, we will gladly send them to Belarus where they will be put to wonderful use. Last month, we sent them composition books, pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils, glue, rulers and other school supplies. Thank you so very much for all of the support First Presbyterian has given to Hand in Hand for Children of Chernobyl over the years.

During our annual trip to Belarus in the spring, we will be visiting the various facilities we help support to evaluate what items may be of greatest need at that time. Over the years desperately needed clothing and footwear have been sent to the small children’s home in Rogachev. Also peanut butter (a source of protein for the children), jelly, vitamins, toothpaste, toothbrushes and small toys have been taken to the children during our trip. The school in Vysokoye has received school supplies and tents. The village clinic has been in awe over their new examination table and our continued support with medical supplies for them and the Gorodets Hospital. The Vysokoye village Club thoroughly enjoys the arts and craft supplies we have taken and shipped to them. The sale of these items the children and seniors create has helped them be able to make major improvements to the building. Last spring really showed a huge difference in the appearance of the inside of the club building which had been in need of many repairs. Rogachev Hospital has been completely thrilled with the doppler that has allowed them to not only monitor fetal heart sounds but also check the flow of blood in various parts of patient’s bodies for diagnosis. We have also brought approximately seventy children for visits during the summer. Thank you First Presbyterian Church for being a vital part of all of this. Our fund raising efforts continue as we now work to raise funds to bring eight to ten new children this summer for a medical recuperation. If you know of any families interested in hosting a child, please let us know. Thank you again for all of your support.

~ Debbie Miller