Full Tummies

Our nutrition facilitator in China, Cindy, just visited Huaibei and sent some of the best pictures. The baby on the right is called “laughing Buddha” by the orphanage staff. How adorable is that?! You can see why too. She looks so happy.

Thanks to all of your support, the babies continue to look great. The orphanage continues to use the cleft bottles we sent, which is obvious from the pictures of the babies with cleft lips. They are looking great. Not too skinny at all. And 2 will be having surgery soon! That's a huge blessing because they wouldn't be able to have surgery if they didn't weigh enough.

We are going to send more formula and rice cereal this month. Cindy said the orphanage was clean and neat and that the aunties take very good care of the babies. Many of the younger children are attending kindergarten outside of the orphanage during the day, which is wonderful. We will be purchasing formula that is good for the toddlers too (Neslac) because there aren't as many infants right now. This formula is also especially good for the babies with medical needs and was purchased in April 2008 with great success. The kids love the taste and it’s full of great nutritional benefits for all of the kids. We will also continue to provide more than 200 bags of rice cereal each month.

In February we were able to purchase heater/ air-conditioning units that are getting a lot of use right now. This area of China is not only very hot in the summer, but also very humid. These air-conditioners are preventing heat sores and sleepless nights.

The support of so many is making this program invaluable. Children are not only happier, but they are healthier, and are able to have surgery if needed because they are strong. If you would like to be a part of this life-changing program, please email me at kari@angelcovers.org Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you’ve done for these children. You are making it possible for them to have a full life.

Coming Soon -- Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is always a little bittersweet for me. I love having a perfect excuse to spend the entire day with my kids. We go for hikes, go out to eat, whatever....as long as we don't have to think about anything else but having fun as a family. In this busy world of school, work, sports, and so many other activities, it's great to be able to take a day and just hang out together with no other obligations.

But Mother's Day also makes me think of those kids who don't have a mom, or kids whose families just aren't able to give their kids what they need. These are the kids who need to be able to "borrow" our moms for a day. These children need us to allow our moms to give them a home, and education, or food for the day.

This Mother's Day, please consider donating to help another child in honor of your mom. Put your mom's name on a brick at Angel Covers and let those children see how much she cares for kids around the world. http://www.angelcovers.org/angelcottage.html Sponsor a child at Humble Hearts, a Tibetan Minority Region school, or at our nutrition program in Huaibei, Anhui to provide kids with the warmth, nutrition, and education you mom provides you. http://www.angelcovers.org/childsponsorship.html Give a blanket to a child around the world so he/she has something to snuggle with as you did as a child. http://www.angelcovers.org/giftcards.html Any time a donation is made in honor of your mother, a card will be sent telling her of your generosity.

You can also purchase mom cooking aprons, blankets, notecards, or sweatshirts. All of these products support children around the world and let your mom know that you appreciate all she has done. http://www.angelcovers.org/products.html

There's a saying that says imitation is the best form of flattery. Help us imitate a mother's love through your gifts to her. By helping kids around the world this Mother's Day, you will be letting you mom know what a great job she does.

Nutrition is oh so important

Approximately 6 weeks ago, Angel Covers partnered with Love Without Boundaries to provide extra nutrition to the children in the Huaibei, Anhui Social Welfare Institute in China. Each month 120 boxes of rice cereal and 168 bags of formula are being sent to this SWI to help them provide these beautiful children with even more nutrition.

Seeing the boxes of formula and rice cereal arrive is always exciting. The staff at this orphanage love the babies so much, and they work hard in exhausting conditions to provide wonderful care for the children. This week we received pictures of the beautiful babies with full bottle and pudgy fingers.

Good nutrition isn't just about full bellies. It's about healthy lives, and strong bones. It's about being able to develop physically and emotionally without the stress of a an empty tummy. It's about aunties who don't have to hear a baby cry of hunger and wish they could do something about it. This nutrition program is important for the children as well as their caregivers. If you'd like to help us make a difference in these children's lives, please go to http://www.angelcovers.org/ and click on the donation button. It only costs $15 per month to help feed one of these precious babies so any amount, large or small, makes a huge difference in their lives.

There is nothing more peaceful than a happy baby and these beautiful, happy faces are what Angel Covers is all about.

Kari Fillmore