FatPalomino
Nov. 25, 2009, 03:13 PM
Twice, I wrote up a long description of the kids, their situation, and why they need your help.
Twice, it went ka-poof on me :(
The short version:
I have been studying vet med in a 3rd world country for some time now. By 3rd world, I mean kids don't have shoes, GDP of $10,000US, giardia-free water and beater cars are a luxury, dog-fighting and drug violance is out of control, no laws on parents beating kids, sewage running down the middle of the road into the ocean, families renting overcrowdedshacks without window screens to control bugs, stray dogs getting poisoned routinely for eating skinny, feral goats, and families of 10 with completely empty refrigerators.
What was the most amazing of all, was that the local families I met were some of the kindest, keenest, most compassionate people I ever met. The kids are nothing short of amazing. Their parents try so hard with the little they have. Christmas isn't in the budget for most of them, as they are just literally trying to put food on the table.
These kids are compassionate towards animals. One 10 yr old boy, Tariq, wants to be a vet. He does very well in school and eagerly helped me with the all the strays and puppies. His father, who lives in a seperate house in the area, is one of the biggest players in the dog fighting ring and rountinely gets drunk and beats Tariq. Tariq asked me to take his dog inside my home when she had puppies "so they were safe from his father." He wanted his dog to be safe, even though he never was. :cry: His dog, (Sarah, the blank and tan in the pictures) and her 8 puppies, were all safely inside, and I brought the remaining 2 pups that needed homes back to the US. One is still inside my house :D
The Hanley family asked me for help when their little white dog ChiChi got sick. They asked me to help give him medicine the vet gave them (even though they couldn't afford the vet bill, thankfully they still got the medicine they needed). It was in the refigerator. Chichi's medicine was the only thing in the refigerator. There are 7 children living in the home, and no food. I would bring them fruit that grew in my yard, and food that I didn't need, and everytime their father, PJ (who raises the kids with his 2 sisters, I don't know where the kid's mom is) was so grateful. PJ would often find neglected dogs in the neighborhood, one very sad one tied to a chain starving covered in mange, and would bring them in his house and feed them scraps, until I could get there and bring the dog to my house to rehabe and rehome it. That dog, named Dweezle, made a full recovery from the brink of death and we flew him to his adoptive home right here in Ft Collins, CO.
The compassion doesn't stop with animals in need. These kids share EVERYTHING. They are so responsible- their parents work until late at night, so they get off the bus, go home alone, change out of their uniforms, tend to the livestock, eat food if their parents left some, do their homework, go play with friends, and are always back in time to greet their parents. The kids watch over their younger siblings. The kids watch out for each other. For example, Tariq's friends always warn them if they see or hear Tariq's father around. Tariq is constantly running and avoiding his father and the beatings that occur in his presence.
I can go on and on about the kids and families I've met, and how amazing they are. They have almost nothing but would give yo the shirt off your back if you asked.
Last year, I was able to give some kids a Christmas. I went to the thrift store and spent $50 on 100 pounds worth of t-shirts, sneakers, sandals, electronics (20 question ball, cheap digital camera), silly string, popcorn kernals and candy, dog collars and leashes, and some slinkies. I threw it all in my suitcases and brought it back for the kids. It made the world of difference for these kids. PJ, who was able to buy an original Xbox to "keep the kids off the street", was so excited when I brought down our "old" grand theft auto game. The kids played it non stop for weeks.
The favorite toys were the simpliest. Tariq LOVES silly string and the slinky. The flashing light that could go on the dog's collar was a big hit. Any electronics make the kids feel like thay are special- old ipods, mp3 players, gameboys, etc. Tariq loves rabbits so I've gotten him books on them with lots of pictures. Tariq needs a microphone or headset so we can talk on Skype. The little kids love playing with toy cars and little shovels to move dirt. And all kids LOVE US branded clothing (I Love NY, Nike, etc). Sean John jeans and Nike shoes are worth their weight in gold there. The Henlay family also asked for "rice, beans, chicken, and fruit snacks" last year. Tariq loves popcorn kernals. Tariq still asks me to ship him a pool. I haven't figured that one out yet. ;)
This year, I can't bring anything back, as my time studying on island is done. But, you can help. I can PM the addresses of these kids. If you have some old clothes, old toys, old electronics you don't use, for $20-$30 you can send it USPS (use the flat rate box- anything else is 2-3x more expensive) and these kids can have Christmas. You'll be mailing it directly to the family, no middleman, and you can stay anonymous if you want. No money need to be exchanged. I won't be involved at all rather than providing the address and details. You probably won't get a thank you card from them (postage is a luxury and many parents aren't literate), but I promise you, it will make the world of difference.
Just imagine trying to live your life the right way by going to school and working, resisting temptation from the drugs, dog fights, and other money making opportunities, and then, one day, Christmas comes. And it's so different than the other years, because someone, somewhere, has recognized your good heart. Can you be that someone?
I know 3 families very well. Kids range from 3-17. There are many more kids (it mainly seems like boys?) in the neighborhood that could use a little gift. The 2 families I know very well are very deserving and extremely grateful. here's some photos of them:
(The big tan dog is my dog, that taught the kids not to be afraid of dogs, and how to teach their dogs tricks)
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Picture4-1.png
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Picture2-2.png
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Picture1-3.png
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Hanleyfamily.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Tariq2.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/TariqandZach.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Tariqbody.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Zach.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/HanleyfamilyII.jpg
Have you ever seen smiles so bright?
Twice, it went ka-poof on me :(
The short version:
I have been studying vet med in a 3rd world country for some time now. By 3rd world, I mean kids don't have shoes, GDP of $10,000US, giardia-free water and beater cars are a luxury, dog-fighting and drug violance is out of control, no laws on parents beating kids, sewage running down the middle of the road into the ocean, families renting overcrowdedshacks without window screens to control bugs, stray dogs getting poisoned routinely for eating skinny, feral goats, and families of 10 with completely empty refrigerators.
What was the most amazing of all, was that the local families I met were some of the kindest, keenest, most compassionate people I ever met. The kids are nothing short of amazing. Their parents try so hard with the little they have. Christmas isn't in the budget for most of them, as they are just literally trying to put food on the table.
These kids are compassionate towards animals. One 10 yr old boy, Tariq, wants to be a vet. He does very well in school and eagerly helped me with the all the strays and puppies. His father, who lives in a seperate house in the area, is one of the biggest players in the dog fighting ring and rountinely gets drunk and beats Tariq. Tariq asked me to take his dog inside my home when she had puppies "so they were safe from his father." He wanted his dog to be safe, even though he never was. :cry: His dog, (Sarah, the blank and tan in the pictures) and her 8 puppies, were all safely inside, and I brought the remaining 2 pups that needed homes back to the US. One is still inside my house :D
The Hanley family asked me for help when their little white dog ChiChi got sick. They asked me to help give him medicine the vet gave them (even though they couldn't afford the vet bill, thankfully they still got the medicine they needed). It was in the refigerator. Chichi's medicine was the only thing in the refigerator. There are 7 children living in the home, and no food. I would bring them fruit that grew in my yard, and food that I didn't need, and everytime their father, PJ (who raises the kids with his 2 sisters, I don't know where the kid's mom is) was so grateful. PJ would often find neglected dogs in the neighborhood, one very sad one tied to a chain starving covered in mange, and would bring them in his house and feed them scraps, until I could get there and bring the dog to my house to rehabe and rehome it. That dog, named Dweezle, made a full recovery from the brink of death and we flew him to his adoptive home right here in Ft Collins, CO.
The compassion doesn't stop with animals in need. These kids share EVERYTHING. They are so responsible- their parents work until late at night, so they get off the bus, go home alone, change out of their uniforms, tend to the livestock, eat food if their parents left some, do their homework, go play with friends, and are always back in time to greet their parents. The kids watch over their younger siblings. The kids watch out for each other. For example, Tariq's friends always warn them if they see or hear Tariq's father around. Tariq is constantly running and avoiding his father and the beatings that occur in his presence.
I can go on and on about the kids and families I've met, and how amazing they are. They have almost nothing but would give yo the shirt off your back if you asked.
Last year, I was able to give some kids a Christmas. I went to the thrift store and spent $50 on 100 pounds worth of t-shirts, sneakers, sandals, electronics (20 question ball, cheap digital camera), silly string, popcorn kernals and candy, dog collars and leashes, and some slinkies. I threw it all in my suitcases and brought it back for the kids. It made the world of difference for these kids. PJ, who was able to buy an original Xbox to "keep the kids off the street", was so excited when I brought down our "old" grand theft auto game. The kids played it non stop for weeks.
The favorite toys were the simpliest. Tariq LOVES silly string and the slinky. The flashing light that could go on the dog's collar was a big hit. Any electronics make the kids feel like thay are special- old ipods, mp3 players, gameboys, etc. Tariq loves rabbits so I've gotten him books on them with lots of pictures. Tariq needs a microphone or headset so we can talk on Skype. The little kids love playing with toy cars and little shovels to move dirt. And all kids LOVE US branded clothing (I Love NY, Nike, etc). Sean John jeans and Nike shoes are worth their weight in gold there. The Henlay family also asked for "rice, beans, chicken, and fruit snacks" last year. Tariq loves popcorn kernals. Tariq still asks me to ship him a pool. I haven't figured that one out yet. ;)
This year, I can't bring anything back, as my time studying on island is done. But, you can help. I can PM the addresses of these kids. If you have some old clothes, old toys, old electronics you don't use, for $20-$30 you can send it USPS (use the flat rate box- anything else is 2-3x more expensive) and these kids can have Christmas. You'll be mailing it directly to the family, no middleman, and you can stay anonymous if you want. No money need to be exchanged. I won't be involved at all rather than providing the address and details. You probably won't get a thank you card from them (postage is a luxury and many parents aren't literate), but I promise you, it will make the world of difference.
Just imagine trying to live your life the right way by going to school and working, resisting temptation from the drugs, dog fights, and other money making opportunities, and then, one day, Christmas comes. And it's so different than the other years, because someone, somewhere, has recognized your good heart. Can you be that someone?
I know 3 families very well. Kids range from 3-17. There are many more kids (it mainly seems like boys?) in the neighborhood that could use a little gift. The 2 families I know very well are very deserving and extremely grateful. here's some photos of them:
(The big tan dog is my dog, that taught the kids not to be afraid of dogs, and how to teach their dogs tricks)
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Picture4-1.png
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Picture2-2.png
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Picture1-3.png
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Hanleyfamily.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Tariq2.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/TariqandZach.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Tariqbody.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/Zach.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i161/margpete/HanleyfamilyII.jpg
Have you ever seen smiles so bright?