kentucky Archives - Page 20 of 20 - Children Incorporated

On a recent trip to visit Children Incorporated projects in the United States, our U.S. Sponsorship Manager, Chuck Smith, and our U.S. Project Specialist, Shelley Oxenham, stopped by the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arnett, a couple who has been married for 54 years. They are currently raising their three Children Incorporated-sponsored great-grandchildren, Francis*, Alex, and Tracy.

Mrs. Arnett is in her eighties now, and suffers from a variety of health conditions, including a heart condition. Due to her ailments, she finds herself constantly in and out of doctors’ offices. Last February, Mrs. Arnett had a fall down her porch steps that has complicated her health conditions even further; the fall was so severe that its effects continue to take a toll on her mobility still today.

The ramp has changed Mrs. Arnett’s life.

As a result of her fall, stairs became especially difficult for Mrs. Arnett to maneuver. So Genevieve, Children Incorporated’s on-site volunteer coordinator at the school where Mrs. Arnett’s great-grandchildren attend, requested that Children Incorporated provide the funds necessary to build a ramp for Mrs. Arnett’s porch. If we were to provide the funds, the local high school vocational students would build the ramp, free of charge.

Funds were allotted for this construction from Children Incorporated’s Hope In Action Fund. Through their hard work, the students were able to successfully complete the construction of a ramp at the home, thereby dramatically improving Mrs. Arnett’s quality of life – and ultimately, her ability to raise her great-grandchildren, as she is now able to do so in a less physically strenuous environment.

Through their hard work, the students were able to successfully complete the construction of a ramp at the home, thereby dramatically improving Mrs. Arnett’s quality of life.

Mrs. Arnett maintains regular contact with Genevieve, who has expressed that Mrs. Arnett’s gratitude runs deep, as Mrs. Arnett conveys just how thankful she is each and every time she and Genevieve speak with one another. Thank you, contributors to our Hope In Action Fund, for helping to make such a life-changing impact on this family, and for facilitating the action in this community.

Children Incorporated’s Hope In Action Fund supports children, families, and communities in three primary areas: education, health, and livelihood. Donations from this fund can meet a variety of needs, including the purchase of food, clothing, or other necessities, as well as providing aid after natural disasters or fires, or supplementing weekend and summer feeding programs for children who would otherwise go hungry. Any contribution – large or small – can help to satisfy urgent needs in families like the Arnetts’.

* Children’s names have been changed for their protection.

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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD IN Kentucky?

You can sponsor a child in Kentucky in one of two ways – call our office and speak with one of our sponsorship specialists at 1-800-538-5381, or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.

SPONSOR A CHILD

“Being raised by a single parent is hard nowadays,” Genevieve, the Children Incorporated coordinator at LBJ Elementary School, commiserates.

She is referring to Billy*, a student enrolled in our sponsorship program at her school, who is being raised by a single father. Genevieve tells us that Billy’s father attends all budgeting classes and parent-night functions. “He always stays after to help me and the other volunteers clean up the gym,” she adds.

But despite the tremendous emotional support Billy’s father religiously provides, he is unable to provide for all of his son’s basic, material needs.

That’s where sponsorship comes in.

Billy trying on his new shoes

“I just cannot express how much the Children Incorporated program has meant to Billy,” Genevieve exclaims. “Of all the children I have personally selected to be on this program, he is the happiest. It seemed to boost his personal confidence just knowing he had a pen-pal that wants to help him out with extra needed items.”

Recently, Billy’s sponsors helped out even more – contributing an additional gift for Billy’s general needs. Genevieve immediately contacted us to share the positive impact this act of kindness made:

“Billy needed shoes so badly,” she reports, “and the day I went to buy them, they were on sale, so I had enough money to purchase four pairs. I cannot express how thrilled the child was upon receiving the shoes, and his father kept thanking me over and over again.”

“Billy is very appreciative and loves knowing he is special to [his sponsors],” Genevieve adds. As proof, she enclosed a copy of the thank-you letter that Billy wrote to his sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Dunn:

Never in my whole life have I ever got four pairs of shoes at one time. I thank you so much for doing that for me. I cannot express how much I thank you. I needed them so bad. My shoes busted on the bottom and it was cold in the morning. This program is so good and has made a positive difference in my life. It’s like having a guardian angel watching over me that likes me no matter what.

Thank you for being my friend,

Billy

“As a resource coordinator,” Genevieve concludes, “there is only so much we can do to positively affect that child’s life, and it is so rejuvenating when the children enrolled are that pleased as Billy expressed in his letter. Children Incorporated is a great program to work with as a collaborative partner. I, too, am thankful to be a part of a school system that participates. It makes you feel good knowing it made a difference!”

*Name changed for the child’s protection.

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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD IN Kentucky?

You can sponsor a child in Kentucky in one of two ways – call our office and speak with one of our sponsorship specialists at 1-800-538-5381, or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.

SPONSOR A CHILD