March 2012 Letter for Give Children Hope Sponsors and Friends

Dear Sponsors and Friends of Give Children Hope,

I hope that you are all in high spirits as you read this letter. The past month has been wonderful to us, though we had several disasters that took hundreds of lives and great damage to properties.

If you can remember, a part of my country was hit by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake...particularly in Guihulngan, Negros Occidental. There were hundreds of deaths and the situation of those people living there was really heartbreaking. Many of the families are staying in shelters because they were so afraid to go back to their damaged houses. The shelters have run out of food, water, and medicine which makes the situation even worst. The good thing is however, that everyone is trying their best to move forward and build their dreams again. We know that there were other countries that suffered so much when this kind of natural disaster hit their country.  Another good thing was that none of our sponsored children got hurt or even suffered much as these events took place. That is one of the greatest things that we are all very thankful for.

Speaking of your sponsored children, all our programs are doing well as they continue to feed the children of Sua and Maravilla Elementary Schools. The effects of the Meals at School Program for these children have been very obvious, as they have a lot more energy to go on with their day and their weights are getting better than before they had this program. I was able to talk to a grade 4 student and he was very happy to tell me that when he gets home, he doesn’t have to worry if there will be food or not because he gets to eat a lot during the feeding program. I also saw the posters that they have made, it is like a slogan, a drawing where they describe the effect of the feeding program to them.  They are really genuine...it is so cute the way these children appreciate the help that you have been giving them.

This month will be the last month for this school year and the kids go on their summer vacation for the month of April and May. The next school year will be a lot different for all of us because the program called K-12 is being implemented. Before, our system was 6 years in Elementary and 4 years in high school so students get to college at around 16 or 17 years old. Well, this change means that our education system will be like in your country. I believe that it will definitely improve their learning.

We are so grateful for the help that you have been extending to us. It has helped these students a lot and it continues to do so. May you all feel our love and gratitude for all that you do for us.

Our love to you from the sponsored children,

Kristina Sunico, Manila, Phillippines. For the Give Children Hope sponsored children.

Sua Feeding, February 20th, 2012

Here are some great new pictures we just received from our representative, Helen.  Attendance is up and the children are looking healthier and happier each day.

Thank You for a Great Year

GIVE CHILDREN HOPE

P.O. Box 2244

Orangevale, CA 95662

800-373-9972

January 31,  2012

Dear Sponsors,

Thank you so much for your generous sponsorship gifts to Give Children Hope during the year 2011. It was truly a remarkable year for many Filipino children who so desperately needed the meals and school support your donations gave them.

With your support we provided over 700 Filipino children critical daily meals and school needs for the sponsored children participating in Sua and Maravilla Meals at School Programs in the Philippines. 

Kristina Sunico, a former Give Children Hope sponsored Filipino child and now our Philippines Correspondent for Give Children Hope tells how unique our school meals programs are in the Philippines:

       
“I’ve never heard of another child sponsorship organization here in the Philippines that gives sponsor’s donations direct to the children and lets parents be a part of the program”.

And a recent note from our Filipina volunteer coordinator for our Give Children Hope Meals at School programs sends thanks to all the sponsors for their support. Helen writes:

    “Norma Buena, a mother with children at Sua School, approached me and said  she and many Sua school parents are so much grateful for the Meals @School given every day to their children. They hope that someday they can see you all in person so they could show their gratitude. I assure you, that your money goes to the children 100%. Thank you for all your help”. – Helen Agawin, Sur., Philippines

I would like to thank you in behalf of the children for what you do for them.  May God bless you for giving so many of them a second chance in life.

Don Cooper

Chief Operations Officer

Give Children Hope

Thank you for your tax-deductible donations for the year 2011.  If your donation was made online through our credit card processor you should have received a receipt at the time of the donation. You can receive your year’s donations by going online to Network for Good or use this letter as a record for your year’s  donations by writing in the amount of your donations here: $______________.

February Update

To: Give Children Hope

      Dr. Don Cooper Sr.

      Dr. Doug Cooper

      Mr. Don and Cathy Cooper

Dear Sir:

     Hello from the Philippines!  I hope things are going well for you all and I hope everyone is in the best of health.

     So far, all is well for us.  Meals @ School is doing great because parents and teachers are so cooperative.  They know it is a great blessing for them and they can’t believe that in these days there are still people from the United States who are doing these acts of kindness for their children.   

      Kristina Sunico’s second visit was so fun and exciting.  We have worked as a team with one purpose in this great cause.

      We visited 3 families at random and have listened to their stories.  Life for them is so difficult because they are always struggling to have enough food for their children.  The Meals @ School Program by Give Children Hope means so much to them because of this.

     One mother, Sofia Lavandero, told us that when the Meals @ School Program started in their school (August 9, 2011), her son, Ken, weighed only 15 kilos.  Now he weighs 25 kilos... amazing!  Hearing her testimony helped me realize how these people really value and appreciate the program. 

     She also told us that it is a big help to their budget because, instead of spending their money for lunch, she can have it spent for their supper.  Her two children are in school, while she prepares the meals, and sometimes they are so full from lunch that they don't ask for much food at home.

     We also have visited with the leader of the Sua school.  She welcomed us with warm Filipino hospitality and, although it was an unexpected visit, still she offered us a simple snack.

     Anyway, they are very grateful of what Give Children Hope is doing in their school.  Many children are a lot happier, more active, and are excited to be in school now.  The parents and children are confident and know that they will be all right for the day... that even if they have little, or to some ... nothing at all, for breakfast... they will not go hungry because of your generosity.

     They also told us that they are sure that the food is clean because they are the ones preparing and cooking the food for their children.

     They hope these meals will continue in their school.  They ask me after every 3 months if the Meals @ School is still going to stay in their school, and if the answer is YES, they are almost in tears… tears of joy!

     A million thanks on behalf of the people of Sua to all the sponsors... to the founder, Don Cooper Sr and his wife Mary, to the President, Dr. Doug Cooper and wife Tatiana, and to a very special couple,  Don and Cathy Cooper.

Helen Grace Putong- Agawin

GCH- Camarines Sur

Sua Elementary School

Our representative, Helen, visiting Sua Elementary School (on left)

A mother washing the dishes after a meal.  The school principle, Ma'am Cordez has reported that they plan to construct a wash area beside this water pump so parents will not have to wash dishes as shown.

The little boy at the bottom is named Ken.  He is in 1st Grade.  Before the Meals @ School Program started last August, he weighed 15 kilos... after 4 months he now weighs 25 kilos.  This is what Sofia (his mother) told us during Helen's visit Jan 23, 2012.  The mother is so grateful.

A collection of thank-you letters from the children

Happy Valentines Day from the Philippine​s!

Dear Sponsors,


Greetings from the Philippines!


We hope that you’ve had a great start for this year. Time is really flying so fast and we are on the 2nd month of this year. I know that there are a lot of exciting things that will happen this year. We are so glad that you have been with us all this time.  Valentine’s Day is coming and we hope that this day will be filled with love and that you will always find happiness with your families.


Our Meals at School program has been doing so good. We still continue to feed the children in Sua Elementary School in Camarines Sur and in Pototan Elementary School in Iloilo. That is more than 600 children we are feeding every day.

There have been a lot of significant changes in the lives of the children and the families who benefit from our program. The parents say their children have increased in weight and they are more active in school and more motivated to study.

The children want to wish you a happy New Year and they are handing letters to us expressing their gratitude. Here are some of the words from these children.

“I am Adrian Bautista, a grade 4 student in Sua Elementary School. My favorite meal in the feeding is macaroni soup. Thank you friends for giving us the meals in school everyday.”

“I am Ken, grade 1 student from Sua Elementary School. I love the feeding every day and my mother volunteers to cook. My mother is so happy to tell me that I have gained weight from 15 kilos to 25 kilos since I participated in the feeding. Thank you for helping us!”

“Hello, I am Joemarie Lique, 12 years old. My father is a laborer in a construction site and my mother stays at home, the feeding program helps us a lot because most of the time, my parents cannot buy food for us. Thank you for your help”

“How are you? I am Sherelle, I love to study and I love to learn things in school. Life in the Philippines is hard but we are happy. Thank you so much for the help that you have been giving us.”

These are just some of the message of thanks that we always get from the children. They all love to be in school and the help that you have been extending to finance the Meals at School Program of Give Children Hope makes a great difference in their lives.

We thank you for all your help. We hope that we could continue to support and change the lives of these children for the better.

Please visit our facebook and blogspot (Give Children Hope) page to see pictures of our everyday Meals at School Program

May you all have a blessed February!  Our love for all of you!

For the sponsored children,

Kristina Sunico

Happy New Years

Dear Sponsors,

Happy New Year to all of you and to your wonderful families. We hope that you've had a wonderful New Year's celebration.  Ours was a blast with all the fireworks and all the people so happy.

We are all excited for this New Year, especially for all the possible advancements that we could do for the Meals at School Program of Give Children Hope. Our 2011 was so good and so blessed.  With your help, we have fed the students in Sua Elementary School in Camarines Sur, as well as in Pototan Elementary School in Iloilo. That is about 600 children that are being fed on a daily basis!  I had the opportunity to attend the feeding in Camarines Sur and it was really a heartwarming experience. I find it wonderful that the parents are so hands-on in doing their voluntary work for their children.

 

They know these feedings have been a blessing in their children's life and that it is possible to provide good meals for their children with your sponsorship donations to help them. Their children are being fed with different healthy meals everyday and there have been positive results considering their weight gain and their happy attitude. I love to see those children so happy and I know that it would melt your heart too.

We are looking forward to a happy 2012 with you and with the children.  You can see updates on our facebook account and our Give Children Hope website. Your continued support will continue to feed these children in Sua Elementary Schools and in Pototan Elementary School. We hope that we can give them a very wonderful 2012.
The goal of Give Children Hope will never be materialized without the help of the good people like you.  We know that we are helping the lives of these children and that motivates us to continue our efforts.

Thank you for all the work that you do for these children. May you continue to be blessed with all the things necessary for you and our family. We love you!

For the sponsored children,
Kristina Lou Sunico