The fliers have gone out and we are anticipating a great turn out. The BBQ at Camp Rivendale will be such a fun day for everyone. There will be good food, games, prizes, walking trails, a play structure, face painting, and more. The entrance fee is $6.00 which includes 1 food ticket and 3 game tickets. Plus if you purchase your ticket by 8/15 you will receive 1 free raffle ticket! (Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event)

There are so many items we will be raffling off. We have passes and gift cards to Pump It Up, Pizza Schmizza, Me Too Cafe, Bungalow Cookies, Cold Stone Ice Creamery, McKenzie Books, Spaghetti Factory, Olive Garden, Lets Play Toy Store, and many more. So buy your tickets now and receive your free raffle ticket. (Thank you so much for all those who have already donated toward this event, we appreciate every one's generosity and hard work.)

This is going to be a great way to come and have some fun and know that your money is going to help make a difference in the lives of others by being divided between 2 amazing groups - Ethiopian Orphan Relief, (http://www.ethiopianorphanrelief.com/ ), and WestSide Food Brigade! We hope to see you there and you can purchase your tickets online by clicking the "Add to Cart" button above.

Ethiopia Reads

ETHIOPIA READS 

ETHIOPIA READS 

Ethiopia Reads has one simple goal: to assist literacy programs in their efforts to put more books into the hands of children in need.

Here's how YOU can participate in Ethiopia Reads~ a celebration of books and reading:

Bring Ethiopia Reads into the classroom, with fun activities and games to bring the beautiful language and culture of Ethiopia to your school.

Lead a fundraising project to support Ethiopia Reads' library programs.

Join the Friends of Ethiopia Reads School Partner Network.

Make a donation to keep Book Week going for years to come.

Visit Ethiopia Reads online to download Book Week materials and get involved.

Update about the benefit

We had huge success at a garage sale that was raising money for our benefit and I am proud to say that the site is now payed for!  Also big news is that our first flyer's went out this weekend at the Day of the African Child.  I hope that all the people that went to this event had a wonderful time (I know my boys did!).  With the flyer's going out we are hoping that people start to RSVP.  If you do this you will get 1 free raffle ticket.  Right now we are still getting a few more raffle items coming in but the ones that we have already are pretty neat!  Each raffle ticket is $1.00 or you can purchase 6 for $5.00.  If you think about it the potential to win a $20.00 gift card from some place for a dollar is pretty neat!  So please start letting us know whether you are coming!

Some of the different organizations that were at the Forestry Center included:

www.makindu.org  -helping care for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya

www.thesenumbers.com  -providing education loans for young adults and older children in South Africa

www.gracekuto.com  -sponsored by the Tigard Community Friends Church, provides education and economic empowerment for women, children and families.

www.thembanathi.org  -funds programs to provide shelter, food and day care for kids affected by HIV/AIDS in rural South Africa.

www.harambeecentre.org  -share material and cultural wealth and builds understanding between the US and people in Africa.

"Let us take care of the children

For they have a long way to go

Let us take care of the elders

For they have come a long way

Let us take care of those in between

For they are doing the work"

-Author Unknown

Flyer is ready to go!

I am really excited because our flyer is ready to go out this weekend!  We are so fortunate that there is The Day of the African Child at the World Forestry Center this Saturday and we are able to pass the flyers out!  We are in the process of fundraising for our event and that is going well!  The cans and the bottles are a big success and I am having a garage sale that is going towards the benefit as well.  I think that we are nervous for the RSVP process, we are counting on people to commit, so that we are good on the number for food.  Wish us continued success and we really need people to RSVP!  Have a blast at the World Forestry Center~ here is a link to find out more information~

http://www.worldforestry.org/organization/DAC1.php

Ethiopian Orphan Relief

"Many times we see an image of a child many miles away in need of help, but we ask ourselves what can we really do?  How can we help and feel connected?  How can we be sure what we do makes a difference?  Ethiopian Orphan Relief is a fantastic organization.  It was started by adoptive mothers who could not forget the needs they saw and their desire to make a difference.  Together they created the non-profit 501C, Ethiopian Orphan Relief.  Through them you can purchase items some from Ethiopia and some from local artists and know that 100% of the profits will go back to directly help the programs Ethiopian Orphan Relief has created to help the orphaned children remaining in Ethiopia.  Another way to help is to make a tax deductible monetary donation thru Ethiopian Orphan Relief's website.  Again you can be sure your donation will be going back to the orphans in Ethiopia.  If you would like to try your hand at fundraising, their website will provide you with an email address you can contact to receive your own fundraising kit.  These three options are just the tip of the iceburg.  Please check back to see how you else you can be involved!  www.ethiopianorphanrelief.org

Feed the Forgotten

Too often we hear heartbreaking stories like this and do nothing. We feel helpless. . . and so we move on. Not this time. There are people DYING in Uganda right now. There are children who's bellies are hungry and aching. There are mamas who are too weak to stand and babies begging to be held. There are people trapping termites hoping for food and eating dung in helplessness. DO NOT CAVE TO DESPAIR. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.

Join us and Children's HopeChest to FEED THE FORGOTTEN!!! (CLICK HERE TO GIVE NOW) (note: please write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section)

For $0.14, we can (and WILL) feed someone a meal of posho and beans. (posho is cornmeal, which is filling and beans are protein). Take that in for a moment. . .

$0.14 a meal

$2.86 for 20 days

$1 per FAMILY

$20 feed a family for 20 days.

How much was my McDonalds yesterday? How much is your Starbucks? The bigger question is how much am I willing to give up SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT EAT?

Remember Jesus story of the Good Samaritan? Remember how his very neighbors walked right by him? They probably looked at him with pity. . .probably thought "oh poor guy, that breaks my heart" but the fact is THEY DID NOTHING.

What will you do? These children are starving. . .

these actual children. . .

will you help? The money raised will feed those precious children. There are 3 - 4 villages that we are targeting (I'm hoping for more after we see how much we can raise!) to bring food relief to asap. These people are literally starving. . and waiting for you to act. Will you help? Even with paypal fees (2-3%) even $1 will feed 6 people! You CAN make a difference.

Spread the word, blog about it, facebook it, twitter it, ask your church or school or business to give, post the blog badge anything. Truly, we are begging you. . .on behalf of these children not to forget this post and move on to the next in your google reader list. Stop, pray, act.
GIVE TO FEED THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN!!!!!

(note: please write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section when you give)

BRING ON THE CANS AND BOTTLES

Bring on the cans and bottles!  We have been collecting for the last few weeks with great success!  I just want to thank all the people that have donated there cans and bottles.  We are trying to raise the registration fee for Camp Rivendale, so that more of the money goes to our two missions.  If anyone in our area is interested in either donating there cans and bottles or the funds from them it would be greatly appreciated!  Please leave us a comment and we will get you information!  Thanks again- happy collecting!