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Hey everyone! Here are the photos from my last charity trip to the Philippines last April 2009. This time, we went to a small Barangay in Batangas, Philippines called Caclican. The turnout was overwhelming! Over 200 people came out. Definitely the biggest event we had to date! We organized the charity baggy giveaway at an open chapel which was central in the area. There were so many people, it was crazy.
Each baggy contained vitamins, first aid kits, canned meat, canned fish, rice, noodles, toothbrush, toothpaste, cookies, crackers, powdered milk, powdered juice packets. We also were giving away school supplies!
It was so wonderful to see the smiles of the kids' faces. We actually ran out of baggies to giveaway and I was very sad about that. So note to self: Bring more baggies!!!!! We packed about 250 baggies but somehow it was still not enough. :(
It was truly heartbreaking to have to tell a few people that we did not have any bags left. I wanted to cry. I witnessed a group of little boys break out into a fistfight over the last bag. I guess some people had even stolen bags from others. It was so depressing and heartbreaking to witness.
That is how hungry these people are. I heard parents screaming at their children to get back in line to get more bags. I saw children falling from being pushed out of the way to try to get a baggy. It was so heart-wrenching. My mind was going a million miles per hour and I tried my very best to get a bag to each person.
The experience was bittersweet. I was happy to have made most of them smile but sad that some left empty handed. Sad, because hunger and poverty is such a huge problem in the world and I felt powerless. I just wish I was able to help these people with more than just a "bag of stuff". I just couldn't help but feel terrible afterwards. I felt like it wasnt enough? :(
I am going to try my very best to make each charity trip bigger than the last. So next year, I'm hoping to do this much much bigger and in several different areas.
But I want to THANK YOU, to all who has helped me and supported me throughout the years with this charity. I could not have done it without the support from you all, so I am forever grateful.
Love,
Christine
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PROJECT: Mendoza : LIFE KITS! April 2009!!
It's almost that time of year again guys!! :)
It is my annual trip to the Philippines for my Project Mendoza Charity! Woooo hoooo!
Every year is a heart-breaking, touching experience that I wish you all were physically there to share this surreal experience with me.
*For those who would like to know more about My Project: Mendoza LifeKITS.. click here and scroll down to the Philippines Project Mendoza trip. *
For those of you who would like to make a donation to Project Mendoza LifeKITS.. Please click on the Paypal donate button.
Each donation will be used to purchase the following items to be placed in a LifeKIT to be hand-given out to as many less fortunate, homeless living in the streets of the poorest areas in the Philippines.
-toothbrush
-toothpaste
-powdered milk for infants and children who need milk nutrients
-essential multivitamins
-first aid kits
-band-aids/gauze
-canned foods and fruit
-slipper shoes
-soap
-hair ties
-hair brush/comb
-lotion
-chapstick
as well educational needs for children:
-reading books
-pencils, crayons
-coloring books
-study guides
As a thank you for your donation, I will email you a self-taken photo of me, holding a "THANK YOU (your name here)" photo, personalized to you!
For any donations over $50, I will send you a signed 'Thank You' poster package!
Each and every one of you help the needy live another day. I will be taking a lot more footage for my trip to post on my site.
It is an amazing experience to hand out a bag and see a person's face light up.
I am so grateful to have you all be a part of my mission. Hopefully next time, you can come with me! hehehe.. Soooo...a million thanks in advance. I love you all!
Thank you for reading!
Hugs,
Christine
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