BACK TO SCHOOL KITS

For every child, one of the most exciting things about going back to school is going shopping for those new school clothes and school supplies.  Towards the end of summer each year, we head to Wal-Mart and stock up on pens, pencils, construction paper, notebooks, back packs and all the essentials that are on the supply list from school.  Then, we head over to the Mall and go from store to store trying to find the perfect clothes that fit this years trends.

For thousands of orphan children across Ukraine, going back to school is just another day.  There are no new school supplies.  There are no new textbooks.  There are no school clothes.  They begin school with whatever the orphanage can find for them to use.

This summer was the second time that Christians had a unique opportunity to help many of these children.  American Christians were asked to collect school supplies and to bring them to collection points where they were then shipped to Ukraine for distribution during the first two weeks of school.

We want to thank the following churches for participating in this years "Back to School Kit" collection:

• Church of Christ of Madison, WI

• Hillcrest Church of Christ, Abilene, TX

• Prestoncrest Church of Christ, Dallas, TX

• Rochester Church of Christ, Rochester, MI

Thanks for generous hearts in these congregations, we were able to provide new school supplies to approx. 400 orphans in Mariupol School Orphanage #1, Solnichne Toddler Orphanage (for Pre-Schoolers) and we will be sending some to an orphanage in Kherson, Ukraine in the upcoming weeks.

We hope that you will considering getting your church or civic group to partner with us by provide a “Back to School Kit” for an orphan in Ukraine in 2006!