A Child Chosen - Perspectives of an Adoptive Parent

A Russian Christmas

by Marcie on December 1st, 2007

Last year my mother proposed something in lieu of stocking stuffers; a charity. And she told me and my husband to pick the first charity to donate to. Because our hearts had so recently been in Russia and had seen how much AJ’s orphanage needed help we decided to donate the money to the Regional Baby Home in Arkhangelsk, Russia.

This year this post is part of Babylune’s Generous December Group Writing Project in hopes of “winning” a donation to FORO…read on to find out exactly what FORO is and where the donated money will go.

When we visited the Baby Home it was obvious to us that the orphanage was in need of repair but that they did everything they could to keep it up. We watched the maintenance man walk through the play room hundreds of times each day.

As we trudged in through snow and ice every morning and afternoon we were cautioned about the tin roof on the entrance and the large iceberg overhead, we were told to watch our step on the missing tiles and watch our head for the the hanging lights (that were obviously too low for adults), we saw chipping paint and dealt with broken toys, both casualties of rough and tumble children and time.

The outside appearance of the orphanage when we visited in the summer (during a heat wave of 95 degrees) was what upset me, not that they were not doing their jobs but that others made their work harder. Teenagers loitered in the orphanage playground during night hours and drank, vandalizing the shade cubbies and breaking the play equipment.

In order to donate to the Baby Home we chose to donate through FORO, Friends of Russian Orphans, which deals directly with the orphanages in Arkangelsk, Russia. We sent out letters to all of our family and friends and told them what we were doing during the holiday season and asked them if they wanted to join us…if they wanted to forgo their stocking stuffers to help the kids in Ark.

Many of friends responded to us and our family. thanks to my mother, donated as well. We raised over $800 to send to FORO. FORO has already helped The Baby Home by “providing funding for extensive room repairs including the infant receiving room, the children’s living quarters, laundry and entrance. FORO has also provided various other material and including medical equipment and major appliances.”

How you can help:

FORO has several ongoing projects in Russia and can always use donations. Contact them here.

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