Dear Friends,

Irene’s parents died of tuberculosis when she was just a young child, leaving her orphaned...and alone. At nine years old, she found herself enslaved by cruel neighbors and forced into manual labor in a harsh, unloving environment. As she cried herself to sleep each night, she never dreamed her life would turn out like this.

At the age of eight, Kelvin was abandoned and homeless. He lived on the streets, barefoot and dressed in rags, fearful of the abuse and exploitation he saw around him every day. Hunger pangs constantly gnawed at his stomach. Life seemed hopeless.

Joseph was the victim of a family dispute that ended in tragedy. His parents grew life-sustaining food on a small piece of land they owned – but other family members contested their rights to this property. As arguments became violent, Joseph’s father was murdered with a machete. With no means to earn a living, the family plummeted into a downward spiral of hunger and despair.

Thankfully, City of Hope was there for Irene, Kelvin, and Joseph. Each one was rescued and is now part of our family. Today they are all thriving, with real prospects for promising futures.

Your care and support are making a profound difference in these children’s lives. Thank you!

As God opens doors for us to care for more vulnerable children, we pray for the needed resources to provide shelter, food, education, medical care, counseling – and to share the wonderful news of a Heavenly Father who loves them more than they can imagine!

We are grateful for you, and many others, who sponsor, give generously, and encourage these kids. Yet, as with many organizations, COVID-19 has hit us hard. Costs of some food items, especially maize and sugar, have risen by about 20 percent. The loss of mission teams, which help meet the needs of our children, has also contributed to a significant deficit in our budget.

That means that, in the coming months, we must raise an additional $54,000 to meet the needs of our children at City of Hope.

These funds will provide nourishing food, schoolbooks and tuition, new clothes, loving care and support, and a safe place to sleep for children who have no other safe options. Your gift can be the first step in planting hope in the heart of a child who desperately needs help. They are counting on all of us!

I realize that the size of this need is immense, but I want you to know that any gift you can make – whatever the size – will make a difference in a child’s life. For example:

o   Your gift of $50 will buy textbooks for two children to study in our schools

o  A donation of $135 provides 15 counseling sessions for children recovering from trauma

o   $1,300 will be enough to provide food to all our kids for an entire month!

You may also want to sponsor a child – and send the message “you are precious!” to them. Sponsorship is just $39 a month ($468 for a whole year) and is a great way to meet many of your child’s needs, and begin an encouraging, personal life-changing connection with them!

Our Africa director, Hudson Mahare, and his team are committed to our vision of transformed lives and flourishing communities. Today would you stand with them to help feed and educate these children and, most importantly, share the good news about Jesus? Thank you!

With gratitude for your partnership,

Al Lackey, CEO

P.S. Help us make sure every child has what they need to grow healthy and strong. And please consider letting a child know that they are precious - to you and to Him - by becoming a sponsor today! Thank you!

 *All children’s names used in this letter have been changed for privacy reasons