AHope

I think I have mentioned AHOPE in previous blogs. A recap: they are an orphange located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that houses HIV+ kids. These kids are given antiretroviral drugs and the attention and care that they need, so it is a wonderful place. I wanted to include this email from the AHOPE coordinator. I know a lot of you have been asking what we can do for kids who are struggling through the conditions they're thrown in (side from actually adopting them) and this is one way. At the bottom of this email is a list of things the kids are needing at the orphanage. If anyone is interested in making a donation, please either leave a comment in the field or email me. Or, obviously, you can get in touch with her in person. If you have any questions, let me know!


Hi Everybody (and my apologies to those that will get this more than once),
This is Erin Henderson... I have taken over as the donations/supplies coordinator for AHOPE for children, an organization that provides a nurturing home in Addis for orphaned HIV-positive children and helps to educate the community about AIDS prevention.
At the moment there are about 87 children (which is up from the 60 or so kids they had last year, thanks to increases in sponsors and funding) living in AHOPE's orphanage, from infants to 14 years old. The children are now receiving antiretroviral drugs--thanks to Jane Aronson's Worldwide Orphans Foundation--and are all thriving. (For more about the organization, please see the website: http://www.ahopeforchildren.org)
We adopted our daughter from AHOPE in the fall of 2006 and the children at AHOPE are very much still in our minds and hearts.Because AHOPE has a very limited budget for basic items like clothing, diapers, and toys, we depend on the generosity of individual donors for these things and on traveling adoptive parents to help deliver the donations.
We realize that the adoption agencies also rely on traveling parents to transport supplies for their orphanages, and we do not wish to commandeer luggage space that the agencies depend on. But if any of you think you might still be able to squeeze some extra things in your baggage, we would be very grateful for your help. Below is the list of items that are currently most needed. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
In the past we have had people gather some things off of the list and carry them over on their adoption/volunteer trip. If you are willing/able to gather some of these supplies and are not traveling, I can put you in contact with someone traveling that is willing to carry stuff over.And on the flip side, if you are traveling and have room, big or small, to carry over donations, but do not have time to gather them, let me know and I can put you in contact with someone with donations to send.Every little bit helps...even a gallon-sized Ziplock bag of things would be appreciated. I have found that many dollar stores carry a lot of the medical items for $1 or less, and have heard from some families that Walgreens and other stores have been willing to donate items when asked.
Once in Addis, we can arrange for the items to be picked up from you at your hotel or you are more than welcome to deliver them yourself if you would like to visit the orphanage. You can contact me for more details.The best way to contact me is at ahopesupplies @ gmail. com (no spaces)
Thanks so much for your help and support.
list of needed items March 2007
Eye drops
Anti fungal for oral thrush
Benadryl for allergic reaction
De-worming agents taken orally
Oral Suspension Ibuprofen
Antiseptic and Pain reliever
Savlon Antiseptic
Benzalkonium Chloride towelette
AntisepticInstant Hand sanitizer
Burn cream
Poison Ivy Cleanser
Povidone Iodine
USP Prep Pad
Plasil drop
Infants MyliconGloves
Digital thermometer
Bandage (roll)
Sterile dressing gauze (packed)
Cold compress (Hot compress).. Pack which is reusable
Cough syrups
Gas Relief
Hyopan (Hyosine Syrup)
Hyosine tablets
Cloxacillin 125 mg/5ml syrup
Cloxacillin 250 mg/5ml syrup

always needed
1. Cotton diapers
2. new/gently used kids shoes
3. kids' underwear and pj's (like sizes 6mos. to 12/14)
4. antibacterial lotion
5. rubber gloves
6. simple English books for the new library
7. balls, simple games/puzzles (that don't require language knowledge)
8. arts and crafts supplies

-- Erin Henderson -Mom to 10 (including two from Ethiopia)AHOPE Supplies Coordinatorahopesupplies@gmail.com AHOPE website: http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/