Mifan Mommy Club

Win the Kay Bratt Giveaway of Karito Wan Ling!

2011-11-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

You Can Win the Karito Wan Ling doll!

Just go to my new blog to find out how. Click HERE!

Mifan Mommy Club Update

2011-11-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

While the Mifan Mama Club is still doing work in China, the US chapter will no longer be able to accept donations. If the Mifan Mama organization is successful in becoming a recognized 501c3 in the future, we will let you know and give you an avenue to help again.

We thank you for all of your generosity over the last few years, with you we were able to help feed many Chinese orphans.

Mifan Mommy Update Feb 2010

2010-02-28T16:12:00.000-08:00

The January 2010 Mifan Mommy Report can be found posted on my new blog. You know you want to read it....go ahead, admit it.

Just click RIGHT HERE!

*Smile*

Mifan Mommy Update December 2009

2009-12-21T15:41:00.000-08:00

Below please find the December report from our China volunteer, Julie. Thank you, American Mifan Mommies for all you do!

Short Report on the Anhui trip (Q&A)
From TLC
1. Who went ?
Angelina Chen (TLC staff), 2 TLC volunteers: Wang Chun Li and Lin Gui Jing

2 when was trip?
December 11-December 13, 2009

3. What was the purpose of the trip?
To make contact with the orphanage, hang out with the people, and make sure the Christmas gifts were delivered and handed out.

There was reports of possible snow, so the plan was changed, we decided to go by train, instead of hiring a van. Because of that,there were cancelations on some of the participants of the trip.

The trip allowed us to be here all day Saturday, meeting people and hanging out. We asked questions about the orphanage, the acting director, Guan and his wife, were very helpful in answering them. We were really touched by the way we were welcomed and received. We stayed at the guest room, the only room in the compound that had heat.

Among the things we got to do were games, pictures, good conversations, etc. Angelina got to teach some English songs to the kids. The 2 TLC volunteers wanted to see about getting the money for purchasing 2 dryers for the small children and patients.

The semi truck with the gifts arrived at about 7:45am on Sunday, the whole place was filled with excitement as gifts were being passed out to the individuals. There were also other donations like crocs shoes and other items. The directors and the staff really appreciate them.

*to those of you who wonder what the Mifan Mommy project is, we are a group of online contributors who give a small monthly donation to support a non-governmental orphanage in Anhui. The orphanage was started by an elderly Chinese man who converted his abandoned manufacturing facility into a home for the unwanted. They do not receive government assistance but instead rely on the generosity of those who have heard his story. But he is the true hero in the story, as he opened his heart to receive those who had no where else to go. For our part as the Mifan Mommies, donations of $9 a month are given to help buy rice, as we found out that one bag of rice to feed the whole institute is only $9, yet for many years the residents only received rice on special occasions. Now they get it all the time!

Sept 2009 Mifan Mommy Report

2009-09-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest Mifan Mommy report from China-- just want to keep all you American Mifan Moms in the loop! Thank you so much for your support!

Dear All,Please find the report of the Mifan Mama meeting held on Tuesday 15th September.It has been another very positive meeting.

Thank you Julie, Coral Lee and Tony for spending Saturday afternoon at the Jinqiao sale....between cake mugs, torches and donations you have raised RMB 2240! Well done!
We have found the sponsors to send the first 4 children to school ! This is great news. Those of you in the mailing list please bring the money at next meeting, as Julie will be traveling to the Orphanage next weekend , and checking out the school on Monday 28th, and if everything looks ok we'll pay and the kids can start going to school in a couple of weeks. Also, while sitting at Starbucks, a lady recognized Julie and offered to help by sponsoring a child for school. It'll probably be the next group , maybe next semester. Thank you Jane.

The Giving Tree form is now with Laowang, they are filling it in with all the details required as well as a special wish that the children may have. It should be returned at the end of the week, I'll then forward it to you Charlene. Please note that height and weight fields are not going to be filled in, as it is too hard to measure for all those children.

Monica from TLC ( a group that works with orphanages), is working at the possibility to partner with Mifan Mama through purchasing rice and milk powder.

Katja from SAP has joined our meeting, bringing enthusiasm and new ideas:, she offered to a drop off point for rice and clothes, will be trying to organize different departments withing the company to sponsor schooling for children, suggested to contact big retailers like Carrefour, Metro, Ikea, etc to find out what do they do with damaged goods and if it is possible to recycle or sell them, also will be checking if there is a way to collect money back in Germany to be sent over for the orphanage.

I'll be meeting the flower arrangement teachers tomorrow, I already have Anne-Claire hosting one event in Puxi in November or December, please come forward if you wish to host one (you have to have capacity for 6 to 8 people, so probably 2 tables) and what are your preferred dates and times. Email me about it, please put FLOWER ARRANGEMENT in the subject line.

Coca Cola to sponsor the Orphanage with RMB 50000 for the next 3 years. Sangita is traveling to the Orphanage with 4 children and Julie by train on Friday night, 25th September . The children will then think of a way to help Laowang and work on this project. Also the children are keen to help us updating the website, for example by adding a shopping corner where we advertise and sell our cards, cups and the cookbook....maybe should be meeting with Heidi in the next couple of weeks to talk about what ideas they have and how we want it to look.

Good meeting with the cookbook sponsors: they will help with the design and want 45 RMB per book, which we can sell for 150 or 200 RMB. Sangita could you please confirm that your teacher is available to translate, so she can liaise with Marion.

Cards; Tomorrow Juie and I will be going to the printing company, to discuss the details. Another idea that was suggested is to use children drawings to make new cards. I'll ask the orphanage to get the kids to draw this week so when we go there at the end of the month we can collect the drawings.

Laowang sick children: Baobei's doctors are looking at the situation of the children in particular and asking questions to clarify their situation. It is work in progress.UPCOMING
We need to find out how many people are traveling to the orphanage BY BUS on 26th-27th September. At the moment there are people traveling by train, 2 private cars, and 1 person only going by bus. Please let us know asap.

[USA Mifan Mommies-- I know, I know...I wish we were going, too....]

Mifan Mommy Report June 2009

2009-06-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

Mifan Mamas Volunteer’s Visit to Lao Wang’s Orphanage Anhui
June 27/28 2009
Report from China Volunteer

Thank You!

I would like to start by thanking YOU all for allowing us the privilege of passing on your gifts and love to Lao Wang’s children. Thank YOU for allowing us the privilege of delivering food to these needy children.

Thank you to Kay and all your supporters in Mifan Mamas America. These children need your support.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE AND DO SUPPORT US MONTH AFTER MONTH WITH RICE, TOYS, CLOTHES AND CASH. WITHOUT YOUR HELP WE COULD NOT HELP THESE CHILDREN WITHOUT YOUR HELP WE COULD NOT FEED THESE CHILDREN.WE VISIT AND DONATE THE FOOD ON YOUR BEHALF.

WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU WE ALL APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
As with every trip it takes four weeks of planning and collecting from and with all our supporters. Each trip we are so grateful to you all for the things we can take to enrich these orphan’s lives.

We have been collecting toiletries from the Hilton Hotel every second week .The volunteers melt down the small bars of soaps and reset into larger bars. We dispense the small bottles of shampoo etc into larger 5 Litre bottles to give to the orphanage. These products are the ones that people half use in hotels and then discard. Thank you James for your support in this way it is a useful way to reduce waste, re-cycle and re-use.

People drop of bags of rice or give donations for us to purchase food on their behalf. Unwanted clothes and toys are given and need to be sorted.

Underwear was desperately needed by all of the children .Thank you so much Shinbi for raising the money for this very needy cause .We were able to purchase, sort, box and transport new underwear for the children of all ages.

Many boxes of stationery were donated this had already been sorted by Carmen so we were just able to load and go with this.

Lilian shops for books, powder milk, baby powder milk and anything else needed by the children. She does this every month.

Last thing is, we purchase treats for them crisps cakes a lollipop/sucker, an apple, orange and then we bag individually for them. They really love and look forward to this treat. This is funded by the volunteers and does not come out of the food money donated.

Margaret at River of Hearts always looks after the needs of these children with anything that has been donated to her charity that she feels is appropriate and needed by Lao Wang’s children. Margaret has helped there several times so knows their needs well.

Boxes of Underwear, Milk Powder, Stationery, soaps, shampoo, body wash and rice delivered Saturday.

We had a car load of things for the children and could fit any thing else except Tony,our driver and I in. This time we did not take the bus with us, as people are away on holiday so we did not have the numbers who wanted to go.We will always hire a bus if people want to visit. Bianca one of our volunteers, her husband Paul and their two girls joined us and traveled in their car.

We all left Shanghai at 8.30am on Saturday and started our journey to visit the children at Anhui, we were all so excited it was the first visit for Bianca and her family so they did not know what to expect. For Tony and I we had not been to see the children for two months and we were happy to be renewing friendships with the children, Lao Wang, his family and the staff, we had really missed them all.

The weather started off a bit rainy but when we made the first of many comfort stops the temperature got hotter and hotter. By the time we reached Anhui it was 38 but felt well over 40 .The countryside on the way was very green and we saw lots of rice fields and corn fields. The trees were in full green foliage, a far cry from the bare trees of winter, it was the countryside at its most beautiful, the children swimming in the steams along with the ducks, just trying to keep cool.

We arrived at the Orphanage at 4.00pm to a wonderful welcome from the children and staff they had been waiting for our arrival, lining the path outside the gates (we don’t know how long they had been there).

As our cars came to a stop, the children crowded around to see what goodies we had brought for them. We asked Lao Wang to have the tables brought outside and started to unpack the car and move the things we had brought onto the tables. We always like to give out the candies, fruit etc first as this is a real treat for them, just as our children like treats it is important that they also have these.

Then came the milk powder for the children and infants, the stationery, the toiletries ,the toys and then the boxes containing the underwear, this proved so popular especially among the teenage girls .One of Lao Wang’s daughters handed them out, this was something new for them.
The teachers took charge of the stationery while they were all excited by the hair and body products.

There was a lot of hugging and introductions to be made. Then off we went to visit with the children who are in bed. All of the rooms had fly netting on the windows and doors, to prevent mosquitoes and it worked. The beds now have the bamboo coverings and the children lying with the least amount of clothing to keep cool some rooms had fans but they are in desperate need of more ceiling or wall mounted fans. All the rooms looked very clean and tidy I am happy to report next visit we can take red envelopes for them. They appear to also need more strollers and pushchairs as a lot of the mummies had large carts used for moving goods with two large holes cut out of the top, into these holes they put the children to transport them about. We also need at least three wheel chairs that can convert into flat beds to get some of the children out of the rooms. Most of the rooms now have a washing machine although the severely mentally challenged children/adults at the top room don’t appear to have one.

I feel so sorry for these helpers (there are two men up there) and their charges as we tend to forget they are there when we first arrive we need to do much more to help this section of the orphanage. The volunteers will have a meeting and decide what can be done for them.

It was now 6.30 and we still had a 45 minute drive to our hotel, so we said goodbye and told Lao Wang we would return in the morning, after we had purchased rice and eggs to deliver to them, we had seen their supply and together estimated they need another ½ a ton.

Off we drove to FuYang to find our hotel. As hotels in the countryside go it was comfortable, not the cleanest but the beds and sheet were clean. After a quick freshen up we went for a walk on the streets in search of somewhere to eat dinner. Our choice was not good but it was the only place we found apart from KFC and MacD, but the drinks were cold. The place soon filled with lots of customers after our arrival, they obviously knew what to order, we just took pot-luck. Then it was back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep and ready for an early start. The morning breakfast high-light being a lovely home made chocolate cake, with candle for Bianca’s birthday.

By morning the temperature seemed to have cooled a little or maybe it was the time of day we got into the cars and headed one block to the street market. We first found the people selling eggs and Thomas Bianca’s driver got us a good deal. Then we made our way deeper into the market looking for the rice vendor. Here we were very happy to find not only rice but a rice and bean mix used for soup or porridge, we purchased 50KG, ½ ton rice, 30KG raw peanuts (protein) and 25Kg Soya beans (protein).This is a very good vendor with lots of produce, next time we will use them and possibly take LaoWang’s son-in-law with us to see what else they need. We still pledge with your help to do this every month.

Then it was back the then children, everyone was so happy to see us again and especially pleased with what we had purchased on your behalf (Thank you all).It was all quickly unloaded and off to the dining-room which they are using as a part storeroom for food as they are giving everyone as much extra space as possible in the heat.

There are 10 students from the Shanghai University staying out there for a week and teaching geography and history. They are sleeping in the PT room on the floor as there is an air-conditioner unit in there to keep them cool.

Bianca and I did an interview with them about the Mifan Mamas and what we do .They hope to spread the word of Lao Wang’s Orphans and get him more help. They were all so helpful it was wonderful having them as translators with the staff it helped with our understanding of many issues.

The children were wonderful they all just want to hold your hand to be hugged and to know you love them. In their summer clothes it emphasizes just how thin they are and how they need the food we help supply, WITHOUT YOUR HELP WE CAN’T DO THIS.

I know times are hard for all of us PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP THESE CHILDREN.
We hadn’t prepared anything special to do this visit (but it was to hot anyway) Bianca’s girls played with the children and Tony exerted himself playing table tennis until he was extremely red in the face while the rest of us just held hands, hugged and carried babies, but it was enough to let them know we all care.

The dinner bell went and off they went for lunch, today it was bread and vegetables in a soup (to hot for much work in the kitchen) They need a freezer for the kitchen and a fridge to store food.

We had several productive meetings with Lao Wang and his staff which we will report on items when we have an implement plan for them.

All too soon it was time to say our goodbyes and assure them we will be back in a month.
It is always sad saying goodbye as they waved to us until we were out of sight.

Every visit is so special in its own way I hope you at sometime can see for yourselves.
This support really makes a difference in these children’s lives

Thank you from the Mifan Mama Volunteer group Lao Wang, and THE CHILDREN OF ANHUI.

Win Children's Mandarin Learning Picture Book

2009-06-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

I will be doing most of my blogging from my website now. In recognition of a newly designed site, I am doing a giveaway. But you have to go to the new blog to enter!

Just go to www.kaybratt.com and find the blog page. There will be two lucky winners!

Need Sponsors!

2009-06-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

[Preston]

[ Aiden]

[Addison]

The shown Bamboo Babies need Sponsors to keep them in foster care and out of the orphanage. For only $35 per month, you can make a difference in a child's life. Contact me at kaybratt70@hotmail.com if you are interested in becoming a Bamboo Baby Sponsor.

Or go to www.pearlriveroutreach.org to find out more.

Mifan Mommy Success!

2009-05-18T05:06:00.000-07:00

Our chapter of Mifan Mommies in China successfully raised the funds needed to send little Huiming to the hospital for her 2nd heart surgery. This was a huge effort and they did such a great job! Congrats China Mifan Mommies!

Attached are pictures of Huiming and one of our China Mifan Mommies.

One of our Mifan Babies....

2009-03-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Mifan Mommies, for all you do!

Get Published in the Mifan Mommy Cookbook

2009-03-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

Attention Mifan Mommies!

The Mifan Mommy Coordinators in China are putting together a Mifan Mommy Cookbook. If you are an Official Mifan Mommy and have a Rice Recipe that you would like to contribute, please email me at kaybratt70@hotmail.com with the recipe. Your name will be published and you will have the opportunity to buy these books this summer. This is a fund-raising project for the children of the orphanage in Anhui so your participation is appreciated!

Wanna Win a Signed Copy of Silent Tears?

2009-03-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Winner of the Signed Book is Mifan Mommy Crystal Cockerel!

Many parents have emailed me over the past few months to tell me they were going to buy an additional copy of Silent Tears to put away for their child to read one day. I love that thought, that one day a child from China will read my story and know that there were/are people who strive to advocate for them.

So, for everyone who makes a $5 donation to the Mifan Mommy Club, by clicking the Special Project Donate button on the sidebar, your name will go in to possibly win a signed copy of Silent Tears. I will personalize the message to your child or other family member/friend in whatever way is specific to them and their circumstances.

For tracking purposes, the donation must be $5-- BUT...you can make as many $5 donations as you want and your name will go in the hat that many times. Only one step to Enter:

1. Make a $5 donation

*All donations for this raffle will go in the Mifan Mommy Club Special Projects fund to provide assistance to orphanages in China. Deadline for entering will be March 30--Drawing on April 1.

Update on Anhui Fu Yang Orphanage

2009-03-12T04:59:00.000-07:00

Update written by Julie Anne, our Mifan Mommy Coordinator in China.

Firstly a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of you that contributed rice for the children at Lao Wang’s Orphanage in Anhui and allowed us the privilege of delivering it on your behalf, we were able to deliver over 1 ton. Also a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of you who answered my SOS for the shoes for them we collected 400 pairs--therefore no more wearing of their slippers out in the rain and cold. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU for clothes, fruit, milk powder, blankets, most of all THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND CARING. These children really appreciate everything you send them. It is so wonderful to witness their happy smiling faces. Your support has been amazing but we need consistency as these children will need our help every month for the rice and milk powder the need is very great and I know in these hard world financial times, it is hard to remember that some are far less fortunate than us. We cannot continue to help these children and make their lives better without your support.

Saturday morning dawned and with a 12-seater bus and a 7- seater Buick we started loading the rice, we managed 20 Bags x25kg in one and 20 bags x 25kg plus 5 x10kg in the other bus. We then started loading the shoes that we had sorted the previous evening, we had 177 pairs which we transferred to Metro bags for transportation. We had bags of clothes for the various age children a few toys, boxes of apples, crisps, sweets. By the time we left Shanghai we were 13 people, 3 drivers and more shoes fruit and physio-therapy equipment. We traveled 5 hours to Hefei and then stopped for the night. We were all very tired but shared a lovely meal together and looked forward to our visit with the children next day. For some, it was their first visit so they did not know what to expect. We had 4 children with us traveling with their parents this would be quite an experience for them. On Sunday we were all up very early as we had to be out of the city by 7.00 am to meet government permit regulations. Two and a half hour later and we arrived at Lao Wang’s Orphanage on the outskirts of Jing Shang .It was a grey morning but it had stopped raining and the bright smiles and happy faces that greeted us was amazing, they were waiting for us at the gates. We were all up and waving to each other.

Loa Wang was first to greet us all, followed by Joyce one of our volunteers and Annie the physiotherapist who have been at the Orphanage for a month working with the bedridden children, getting them up and exercising, they have been training the teachers in Physio and hygiene. These two ladies are a marvel and they were very eager to show us their progress. First we assembled tables and handed out the fruit, sweet, cakes and crisps to the children. Next out came the shoes from the car, everyone was so excited, we tried to help some chose but sizing was a problem, so we decided it was best to leave it to the staff to help them later. Next out came the clothes and again the staff helped to pick for the children as they knew their needs.

Next we gave out some table tennis bats and badminton rackets so the children that had traveled with us went off with some of the children to play. Lastly we opened the cars and everyone was so excited as they helped unload the rice. They were so happy with this and so excited to cook it in their new rice steamer that we had been able to purchase for them with a kind donation. They were so happy to cook their first lot of rice in it for lunch, it was a joy to see. We visited all the children that are confined to their beds and the older adults that are mentally challenged and confined to their dormitory. All the children and adults that we met touched our hearts.

We visited the art room where one of the older boys, who is deaf and speech impaired, is a wonderful painter and he is giving lessons to some of the other children. We will purchase him some art books as what he has, is limited, he loves traditional Chinese art. We decided to purchase the children some beads and materials to do handicraft for our next visit. We then visited the Physio room which is a wonderful place for the children to escape to, it is warm and cosy and here, the little ones can play safely. Those in need of physio help can get it, this is a fun room.

One of the ladies had brought 200 hard boiled eggs for a lunch treat, so it was all hands to peel the shells from the eggs. Joyce and Annie had been running a competition all week to encourage the rooms to be kept neat and clean by the Mums (teachers) of the small children and we then gave red envelopes to the best three, promising that next visit we would do the same. It was soon time for us to leave, each of us had our own special memory of the visit, each of us had been touched by the children of this place they are forever in our hearts.

Bamboo Babies Need our Help

2009-03-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to become an advocate for a child of China. I try to bring those ways to you and let you choose which ones pull on your heart. I am so thankful for this platform that allows me to tell you about the desperate needs of children who need us to be their voice. When I was in China for years, walking through those cribs-- I used to promise under my breath that I would find a way to help when I was no longer there. That is why I bring you one more need that may appeal to some of you-- a way to be a part of placing a child in a foster home and away from the stark institutional environment of the orphanage. If you would like to sponsor a Bamboo Baby, please email me at kaybratt70@hotmail.com for more information. You can also go to Pearl River Outreach site for details. Above are the latest children needing sponsor parents.

The Winner of the Free Blog Design by April Showers is...

2009-03-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Our First Mifan Mommy Winner is a Mifan Daddy

Tyrone Ball

You have won a free blog design by April over at April Showers Blog Design!

I will contact you via email for the details.

A Mifan Mommy on the Other Side!

2009-03-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

This picture really warms my heart. I know we are not there and don't know what really happens in Anhui, but I get a good feeling from looking at this foster granny feeding this child.

I love how in the Anhui orphanage they have live-in foster parents and each granny or mama has a few babies/children to care for that live with her in her room. It is such a different concept from the state-run institutes, it just has to be a more loving environment.

Thank you so much to all of you Mifan Mommies who are helping us to lift the burden of poverty at this facility.

You all are awesome.

Join our Mifan Mommy Club!

2009-03-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

Because of your generous response by comments and emails, the Mifan Mommy Club is off to a great start!.

Please pray for the children of the Fu Yang orphanage and their staff. The orphanage, located in Anhui, China, is in what was once a factory owned by Lao Wang. When he ceased trading as a factory and the building stood empty, Lao Wang started taking in unwanted children of all ages. Being a parent of a disabled child, he could not understand how people could abandon their own children. So along with his wife he started to look after these children with no families and no homes.

Many of the more-than-200 children are healthy but just have nowhere to go. The children are split into small ‘families’ of 5-6 with a room mama or baba to oversee their care. Some are physically challenged, some mentally challenged-- but all have found a home with lots of love with Lao Wang, his wife and their team. Lao Wang’s own quarters within the walls of the factory consist of a very modest room with only a bed and TV. Because he is not supported by the government as a public welfare system, they do not even have the income it takes to eat rice daily—and must save it for a special treat a few times a month. The rest of the days they eat a sort of broth. This is so sad, considering it would only cost 72.5 rmb [$9] to feed all of them for one meal.

So on the sidebar is the $9 donate button to enroll in the club. Also—if you do become a Mifan Mommy, I will put your name in a special spot on my blog and you will be able to see pictures and read updates about the kids at that orphanage. So what about it?

Update: The response to the Mifan Mommy Club has been great! We are going to be able to provide rice every day of the month! But there is more to be done to make the children's lives more comfortable. The orphanage has so many needs that we are going to soon be presenting more of their opportunites that your $9 monthly donation will support. As always, if you want to give under or over that amount, you can choose the Special Projects button instead. And if you haven't become a Mifan Mommy or Daddy yet...please join us-- be a part of a small organization doing big things in China. Thank you.

Win a Free Blog Design!

2009-03-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Go Here to Find out how to get your blog designed by April-- a very talented [and funny] lady!

Wouldn't Some Vaseline Be Useful in China?

2009-02-27T07:29:00.000-08:00

If you read Silent Tears, you remember I went on a search for a jar of vaseline to use in the orphanage. Well....it wasn't only for the little chapped faces. See recent pics from our Anhui orphanage. I'm glad the ayi finally decided to cover up those cute 'lil cinnabuns!

Coming Soon! Prize Drawings only for Mifan Mommies!

2009-02-25T19:18:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned because I am lining up prizes to start giving away soon-- only for those of you who are Official Mifan Mommies! So if you are not official-- see post here to get enrolled so that you will be eligible to win the up coming cool prizes!

Mifan Mommy Report

2009-02-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest report for the Mifan Mommy Club. It is written by Julie Ann, who is our contact in China actually working with these kids.

Baby snug and warm in his bed.

We need to give these children milk formula to help them to get strong. They don’t have any baby formula milk only some recently donated powder milk.

Yesterday we had a meeting with Annie and Joyce who are spending four weeks at the orphanage. Annie is a specialist in training people how to give physiotherapy to the
bedridden, specializing in children that have spent a long time lying in bed. She is from a charity organization and Joyce is one of our volunteers. They have already made great progress after only one week. They were in Shanghai this weekend to collect supplies and have a rest at home, Sunday they are back on the train to the Orphanage.

We have established a physiotherapy room at the orphanage with rubber matting on the
floor and a heater so that children brought from bed will not get cold. They are dealing
with 26 children with cerebral palsy and other brain defects some of these children are
also blind and have just laid in bed before. As these children lay in bed for long periods
they develop breathing and swallowing difficulties. They need our help to supply milk
formula to properly nourish them. Good news these children are now getting help by
various physical stimulation and fun stimulation blow bubbles, straws, musical bells and
shakers. These children are already responding! They just needed the right kind of help
and care.

We will establish a Shanghai Phsysio to volunteer to monitor the progress on a quarterly basis after the training has been given. This work is going to make an amazing difference to the lives of these children.

The other pictures is of two lovely girls showing us their bedroom. We now have people on the ground for a month and in the first week it has shown up a lot more of their needs. The first in hygiene which Annie and Joyce are teaching them, but it is very difficult when they have nothing! No soap, face cloth, towel, tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo, nappies, baby creams Vaseline. We must remember this all costs money and they don’t have any. We will purchase and take out to them next week end but they need this permanently.

Some of the children’s hair has never been washed and Annie found a child with cradle cap at 6 years of age. They need nail clippers to learn how to cut their nails. To us living in the “modern world of plenty” this seems unbelievable, as we take all these things for granted. These children live only on what is given, and still they are happy with where they are and what they have.

I sent out an S.O.S. to friends yesterday for shoes, maybe someone’s child has out grown ones ,the children desperately need them. We will establish a folder for each child there, with their name and picture and will monitor their progress.

There is a lot of on going help needed and in a world climate of job losses let us not forget these children.

Your friend Julie Anne.

Want to put the Official Mifan Mommy button on your blog?

2009-02-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

Official Mifan Mommy Button is ready!

Look on the sidebar and see the new Mifan Mommy button that Rebecca over at Uptown Design Studio designed for us? Isn't it awesome? How do you get this button? [legally....?]

1. Subscribe to the Mifan Mommy Club by donating using the button (s) on the sidebar

2. Email me at kaybratt70@hotmail.com so I can send you the html for the button.

3. In your email, if your name isn't already listed in the Mifan Mommy Member list on the sidebar and you want it there, then let me know!

Thank you, Mifan Mommies!

You Can Join The Mifan Mommy Club Now!

2009-02-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

WE ARE READY TO ROLL OUT THE MIFAN MOMMY CLUB!

As an official [Oh, how exciting!] representative of Pearl River Outreach now, I can now accept your donations to trigger your enrollment in the Mifan Mommy Club! I am so psyched about this project and also to be representing Pearl River Outreach-- [because now your donations are tax deductible] and I cannot wait to see what we can all band together and accomplish.

There are two buttons on the sidebar; one for the Mifan [rice] Program and one for Special Projects for the orphanages. We will be communicating details to you on any of the projects we use donations for but I can give you some pre-information that the Anhui orphanage needs help in many areas, one being the kitchen area. If we are able, we will help. If not...then we will be thankful that we will be filling those sweet little bellies with the rice that they currently only see on special occasions.

So hit the button!

And then please shoot me an email [or a comment!] and let me know that you are official and if you would like your name or blog address listed on the sidebar in the "Members Section".

We [me plus the others in the Pearl River gang] have many ideas going forward and you will be seeing more information soon. Expect to see posts on the children you are supporting in the orphanage, as well as the Bamboo Baby Program.

If you would like to join the club and make donations, but would prefer to do so by mail, please make your check payable to:
Pearl River Outreach, Inc. and mail it to:
Pearl River Outreach, Inc.2415 Hutcheson Ct.Lancaster, Ohio 43130
In the Memo Section-- PLEASE note "for Mifan Mommy Club"

P.S. The Mifan Mommy button is still under construction and I hope to have it by the end of the week--- it will be sent to you to post on your websites to let all of your blogger friends know you are in the Mifan Mommy Club! Thank you for your patience....

What Is the Mifan Mommy Club!

2009-02-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

What is the Mifan Mommy Club?

It is a virtual club of individuals who band together to support children in China. With only $9 per month, a bag of rice [mifan] can be purchased and will feed all of the children and staff in the Anhui orphanage for one day. Wouldn't you like to feed that many hungry bellies for one day for such a small amount? Talk about the loaves and fishes story!

What will you get in return for joining the Mifan Mommy Club?

Upon your first monthly donations, you will receive the "Mifan Mommy" blog button to go on your blog or website. Lastly, we will put your name or blog address on our Mifan Mommy page as recognition and encouragement for others to join in.

Most of all, you will have the gift of knowing that you are a part of a child's world and support system. You may never meet this child or children, but you will be connected for always. The children of China need you---and there is a reason you are reading this blog. Could this be it?

So...are you ready to join our Mifan Mommy Club? If so, please make your first monthly donation and that will trigger your enrollment.

This is going to be BIG--- please be a part of it.

About the Anhui Orphanage the Mifan Mommies Support

2009-02-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

As written by a Chinese colleague from the orphanage:

THE ORPHANS RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF YINGSHANG COUNTY, ANHUI PROVINCE

The Orphans Relief Association of Yingshang county in Anhui province formerly known as Wang Jia Yu Children Welfare Society (founded in 1994) is a non-profit, civil managed orphanage officially established in 2006.

The institution currently provides shelters and fundamental needs for some 221 unfortunate ones, ranging from those being abandoned, crippled yet ill to those who are mentally retarded or brain damaged and even paralytic ones!

The institution is now seeking local and if possible, foreign charity aids which can help to relief and support the continuous effort to assist those who are so badly needed.

With the setting up of the attached School for the Deaf in 1999, and increasing numbers of enrolment in the local community, more material and human resources are in need. Educational classes for the blinds are yet to be conducted.

THE DEFORMED ORPHANS RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF YINGSHANG COUNTY, ANHUI PROVINCE

About The Founder

President Wang Jia Yu, now 68, presently with health problems, a local handy craft factory director, is the founder of The Deformed Orphans Relief Association of Yingshang County, Anhui Province in China.

Born in a impoverished rural family, uneducated during his early age, he has managed to strive through a very rough life and to succeed his father who died early, as the bread winner of the whole family. He was then 18. Misfortunes continued to strike him after his marriage with a wife who is an epilepsy patient, plus all 5 daughters who were born handicapped (4 being mentally retarded and 1 being dumb and deaf).

His kind heart, unimaginable toughness, consistency and great passion in life has rendered him even to adopt other handicapped orphans and some poor old folks as well, with the assistance of all kinds from the community within and without.

In 1994, he was by then a craft factory owner and with the income the Orphanage was able to be self sustain. In 1999, another commitment to set up a School for The Deft was achieved.

In 2006, The Deformed Orphans Relief Association of Yingshang County was established whereby Wang Jia Yu was officially elected as the first President. And this year, another extended effort being carried out by setting up Handicapped Orphans Medical Recovery Centre to provide proper treatments and necessary guidance for the patients concerned.

As the founder, his undoubted commitment and endeavor in helping those misfortune, have certainly earned him a wide spread recognition, respect and support from the public and local community. He was recently invited to appear in a local TV talk show to share his undergoing, experiences and appeals together with some special guests as witnesses. His warm heart and compassion to human lives, especially those unfortunate ones have, in fact, touched many.

He has adopted a total of 539 person in his life. Some even married and have grand children. Because of his health, he is seeking a charity group or successor to take over and manage the orphanage.

Photos of Anhui Children and Facility

2009-02-10T15:50:00.000-08:00