Crossroads Springs Institute Children's School/Care Center for African Orphans of HIV/AIDS

CROSSROADS SPRINGS CARE CENTER
Hamisi, Kenya
www.crossroadssprings.org

Newsletter #3 May, 2006  “Save the Child!  Build the Nation!”  

What do Thanksgiving pies, a college reunion, and 135 gorgeous children have in common? 

Crossroads Springs Institute, of course!

In November, members of Christ’s Lutheran Church in Woodstock, NY, peeled apples, rolled pie crusts, and turned out 100s of Thanksgiving pies as a fundraiser for Crossroads Springs through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  Thrivent Financial had chosen CSI and two other programs for fundraising this year; after all the pies were baked and eaten, Thrivent wrote Crossroads Springs a check for $5,000, and the Thrivent effort continues.

Many people have stepped forward to support the children of CSI, with financial contributions and also with gifts of time and creativity. While cleaning out a closet, a Vassar alumna rediscovered a fleece blanket that had been a favor at her reunion. Remembering Crossroads Springs, she donated the blanket to CSI and asked her classmates to do the same. She started a ball rolling, and now her business colleagues have donated blankets and a community group has formed to sew blankets together. We now have more than 150 blankets plus some gently-used shoes, and a corporate sponsor has agreed to arrange for shipping to Kenya.

The Golden Gourd Award goes to the members of Orchard Park (NY) Friends Meeting --in addition to arranging a Mother’s Day article in the local paper about Crossroads Springs, the Friends are raising money for bed nets for the children of CSI (mosquitoes and malaria are a problem in Kenya). Their fundraising “jar” is a hollow gourd atop a table clad in an African cloth.

Americans aren’t the only ones finding creative ways to support CSI. In CSI’s hometown of Hamisi, women have come together to form a widows and guardians group. The group is now applying to an international organization for income-generating assistance, to relieve poverty and benefit CSI and the community. The CSI board, a farmers club, and the widows and guardians are also teaming up with an American, Deb Naybor of “Both Your Hands” to work on making CSI financially self sufficient. Deb, who not long ago drove a van of building supplies to Katrina victims in Louisiana, will travel to Kenya this spring. The care center has received gifts of corn, beans, cooking oil, milk, etc., from grateful local residents.

With both local support and support from abroad, the new school year at Crossroads Springs began in February, with 135 children ages 4 to 9. CSI now employs six teachers and one head teacher. The staff and board of directors are pleased with several underground and above ground water tanks, and are looking forward to a new well and the purchase of another pump. Also good news, the new sewage system is almost complete.

In July or September, depending on funding, up to 100 children will move into Crossroads Springs as residential students. Double-decker beds, which will be made locally, will be outfitted with mattresses and blankets (including Vassar blankets!)

An application has been made for a grant to pay for the well and the pump. Other projects on the CSI “to-do” list are: furnishings for the classroom and dining room, kitchen serving and safety equipment, and a chain link fence around the care center. Ongoing costs for the children’s food, education, and health needs continue at $300 per child, per year.

Thank you for your continuing support of the children and their caregivers in Kenya!

In Peace and Hope!  Alison and Arthur Hyde