April's newsletter features LWB's Nutrition and Orphanage Assistance Programs. LWB's Nutrition Program provides high quality formula and nutritional assistance to children residing in orphanages throughout China, giving the gifts of health, contentment, and a full tummy. LWB's Orphanage Assistance Program provides supplies to children residing in orphanages throughout China for their safety and comfort and to enrich their lives. Click the link below to download the complete newsletter in convenient .pdf format. You'll find the stories in this email plus these features and stories:
Jordana's Mitzvah Project for LWB (Feature Article by LWB's Suzanne Damstedt)
Heroes Wanted, Children Feeding Children, The Perfect Mother's Day Gift and more!
Team LWB Updates (Special Report by LWB's Sandi Glass)
This line-up of cuties takes part in LWB's Nutrition Program in Gansu Province. Each quarter we send nutritious formula to help these little ones grow and develop. Some of the babies have unrepaired cleft lip and palates. As a result, it is difficult for them to feed. We have sent special cleft bottles for these babies. These are specially made soft bottles that are squeezed to slowly drip formula so that the baby can swallow easier. In addition our orphanage assistance program provides extra aunties to help with the feeding and care of the babies. Quality formula and patient aunties to help with the feeding give the babies at the Pingliang orphanage the best chance for healthy growth and development. Thank you for making all this possible!
During our trip to China last month, we visited orphanages in both cities and the rural countryside in multiple provinces. I was struck by one major similarity that I have discussed before - the days of Chinese orphanages being filled with "healthy" baby girls are over. In every location where we work, the vast majority of children now entering the orphanage system have medical needs. This was reiterated to me again on my trip, as orphanage directors told me repeatedly that 90% or more of the kids in their care now have some sort of special need. While it is impossible to make vast, sweeping statements about orphan care in China since the country is just so big and diverse, this change in the population of children being abandoned is essential for everyone to understand. These changes mean that the critical needs of orphanages shift with each passing year.
We are grateful to the Team LWB Los Angeles Marathon participants for their dedication to making a difference in the lives of children in need. Runners in the marathon held last month raised over $17,000 for children in LWB's Medical Program! We had 14 runners out on the course ready to endure predicted cold rain (for the second year in a row) when the sun broke through about 6 a.m. and shone the whole day! What a blessing! The runners were so committed and all had a ton of fun!
