Worldwide, college and university-bound orphans leave their orphanage homes needing all the day-to-day living materials that parents and family members usually supply, resources that orphans obviously lack. In conjunction with the non-profit New Thing, Ipswich, MA, Harbor Rotarians contribute support for The Children’s Village in Belarus. This year, first year college and university student kits contained bedding (sheets, blanket, pillow and pillow case, coverlet), pots and pans and other kitchenware, an iron, and towels, as well as a laptop, desk lamp and study materials.
What’s our club’s connection to such a faraway but very needy place? Some time ago, the members’ hearts were touched by a talk given by Doug Brendel, head of New Thing. Doug visits Belarus frequently and is committed to working with the on-the-ground dedicated caregivers from Belarus who provide the love and attention that the orphans, from the youngest to the oldest, need to be successfully launched into productive futures. For more information (or looking for an international connection), Doug can be reached at unconventional@dougbrendel.com.