As the holidays approach, it is not unusual for people to seek out a cause to donate to. Hundreds of organizations exist which are eager to relieve you of your money; I would like to propose one additional opportunity to do so, but one which is very grass roots. You will not receive a tax rec't for any donation you make here, but you will get a story to share that is authentic, and the knowledge that you have made a very real and positive impact on the lives of some remarkable children.
Vida is a woman of African descent whom I met while she was stuffed into a small apartment in Etobicoke's north end with her then 4-year-old twin boys. Despite their limited resources, she and her partner had decided to have one more child, perhaps hoping for a girl. For a couple comitted to raising a family, even with limited resources, three children in total would have been manageable.
When I met Vida, she was 8 months pregnant -- with TRIPLETS!!! Her brood would soon consist of five boys, all under the age of five!
Miraculously, the children are all relatively well-behaved and polite. I love having the older boys over for dinner; they play nicely with my boys, and are calm and well-mannered, despite the chaos of being raised in close quarters with four noisy siblings! This is a testament to the parents, an achievement, despite their many hardships.
Over the years, we have kept in touch (see here for some interesting projects and photos), and a few of us from TPOMBA have tried to help this family as best we can. Ideally, they need time. Several people with an hour or two a week who could come and work with individual children. (The twins are 11 now, and the triplets are 7, and all have special educational needs. Literacy is a major concern, both for the mother and the children.)
Each year at Christmas, a few of us beg, borrow and steal whatever we can to ensure the parents and five kids have something NEW and FUN to open on Christmas morning.
Will you consider joining me in the cause this holiday season? If you have money, time or new and relevant gifts to donate, please contact me!
Vida is a woman of African descent whom I met while she was stuffed into a small apartment in Etobicoke's north end with her then 4-year-old twin boys. Despite their limited resources, she and her partner had decided to have one more child, perhaps hoping for a girl. For a couple comitted to raising a family, even with limited resources, three children in total would have been manageable.
When I met Vida, she was 8 months pregnant -- with TRIPLETS!!! Her brood would soon consist of five boys, all under the age of five!
Miraculously, the children are all relatively well-behaved and polite. I love having the older boys over for dinner; they play nicely with my boys, and are calm and well-mannered, despite the chaos of being raised in close quarters with four noisy siblings! This is a testament to the parents, an achievement, despite their many hardships.
Over the years, we have kept in touch (see here for some interesting projects and photos), and a few of us from TPOMBA have tried to help this family as best we can. Ideally, they need time. Several people with an hour or two a week who could come and work with individual children. (The twins are 11 now, and the triplets are 7, and all have special educational needs. Literacy is a major concern, both for the mother and the children.)
Each year at Christmas, a few of us beg, borrow and steal whatever we can to ensure the parents and five kids have something NEW and FUN to open on Christmas morning.
Will you consider joining me in the cause this holiday season? If you have money, time or new and relevant gifts to donate, please contact me!
RSS Feed