HELPING HAND- AUGUST 2010 ALMA

PREPARED BY ISIS

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT:
Alma Jeaneth Perez Cruz is a 14 years old girl who cannot speak or walk. She lives in Choluteca, Honduras with her two sisters. The three girls were abandoned by their parents & are now raised by Reymunda & Bernardo. One day Raymunda & Bernardo went to the river & saw the 3 girls there. Alma was 2, Lourdes Jasmira was 1, and Kenia Marsela was just 3 months old. They welcomed the girls into their home & have taken care of them ever since. Alma doesn’t speak but she can understand what others are saying which often leads to Alma laughing, which is very endearing to see.

HELPING HAND NEED:
Alma Jeaneth had a wheelchair that she grew out of & unfortunately the family is unable to get a wheelchair that is the appropriate size for Alma. In order to get around Alma has to crawl on the floor, so the need for this wheelchair is great. Grandway's Helping Hand will be providing a wheelchair that is the appropriate size for Alma to hopefully make life a little easier for the whole family & provide Alma with some new opportunities & experiences that she deserves.

THOUGHTS FROM REYMUNDA (Foster mother):
“I felt so sad when I saw the 3 girls down the river, I took them to my house. I do know who their mother is but she doesn’t care about them. She has never come to my house to see how they are. I am not their real mom but I love them like my daughters. I don’t have a good job but I am so grateful for you because my Alma is heavy & I cannot hold her, but with the wheelchair I can take her with me while I am working washing clothes.”

STATEMENT FROM JASMIRA (Alma's Sister):
“I love my sister & I like to be around her. She is so happy playing; I like to make her laugh. When I get home from school the first thing that I do is to see my sister and see how she is doing. I love to help her. Now that she has a wheelchair I can take her with me & she will be able to see others things. Thanks for help my sister!”

HELPING HAND- JULY 2010 MARTINES FAMILY

Prepared by Family Solutions- Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT: The Martines Family-This is a beautiful family of 5 living in Choluteca, Honduras. The mother's name is Maria and her three daughters are Bessy (10), Emilia (7) and Kenia (2). They also have Maria's father Rufina living with them. Maria's husband left the family 2 years ago.

HELPING HAND NEED: The Martines Family is very poor and recently moved to Choluteca hoping to improve their opportunities and flee some mistreatment. Maria has some health issues that will not allow her to do strenuous work. In their simple "makeshift" home, they only have 1 bed for all 5 family members Grandway's Helping Hand project will purchase additional beds and bedding so the family can be more comfortable and have some basic needs that they deserve. Even though their conditions are humble, this simple need being fulfilled will help improve their quality of life.

THOUGHTS FROM BESSY (10): "I just want to help my Mom and family. I know my mother is sick so I go to school in the morning and in the afternoon my mom boils corn and I go out to the street, house by house selling corn. I dont sell a lot, but I sell enough to have food for our home. I miss my father...."

STATEMENT FROM MARIA: "Thank you. I am grateful and you have made our family so happy. This is a miracle for us. We never thought we would have beds because we are very poor. I know that God works through people and he has sent your group to help my family. Thank you again and God bless you. I will try to go to church and I know God will bless my family.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The house the family lives in is somewhat temporary. They live on the side of the street and just built the house from material they could find. The mayor of the city told them they could live their for a few years and he would try to help them find another home in the future. Grandway will keep an eye on this family's situation.

Maria's father also does work for the local church and the church gives him food to help feed his daughter and grand daughters.

HELPING HAND- JUNE 2010 LENAR CARBALLO

Prepared by FAMILY SOLUTIONS-Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT-

Lenar Carballo is a fun loving ambitious 8 year old boy, living in Choluteca Honduras. He lives with his mother and two sibilings. Lenar's father left his mother when his mother was still pregnant with her third child. His mother is a seamstress in the Grandway sewing facility and is a reliable and good employee.

HELPING HAND NEED-
Lenar has a rare form of blood cancer that can be treated & stabilized with a specialized medicine for a few months. This medicine is very expensive & his family cannot afford the cost. His outlooks is positive as long as he has access to this much needed medicine. His treatment will be supervised by the local resident physician.

THOUGHTS FROM LENAR-

Lenar is very special boy and he likes to play with his friends and family. Although he is only 8 years old, he has great faith and dreams. He said he wants to be well so he can help with taking care of his little brother while his mother is working. He has a very kind heart.

STATEMENT FROM LENAR'S MOTHER-

“Thank you so much... I am really grateful for your help. I know my son will be alright. My whole family appreciates everything you are doing for my son...God will bless you forever.... Thank You”.