Hope Haven Ukraine Needs Help

OK, everyone.  This is why you are part of At God’s Table.  You aren’t simply readers.  You are part of a cyber-family that reaches all over the globe.

In the past I told you about Amy Gomes who lives here in Florida and runs a pediatric therapy center for disabled children.  Out of her own pocket, Amy started Hope Haven Ukraine, the ONLY school for handicapped children in the entire country of Ukraine.  Amy mortgaged her house and put every dime of her money into building and operating this school.

If the school had all the children it could take, things would be fine.  But there is no legal incentive for families with disabled children to send them to any school.  Most of the children are restricted to bed where they show severe developmental deficiencies.  Amy’s school is changing all that.  But there is no added money in the Ukraine to keep it going in the winter in spite of the additional expenses.  So, I am asking you to think about helping Amy.  Here’s what she just wrote to me:  (and by the way, I am sending her $1000 tonight from all of you as a start).

Amy writes:

Here are a couple of kids that attend regularly at Hope Haven.  I have 25 regular donors which amounts to about 1700 per month.  I pay 1300 for the mortgage separately.  The kids parents pay approx 30-40 dollars/month which totals about 200 maximum if everyone shows up and pays.  The winter months are hard because heating fuel runs 400-500 and gasoline for the bus is running 700/month.  At this point we do not feed the children..they bring their own food.  I have skeleton staff which includes 2 teachers, 3 therapists and a director and bus driver.  They make on the average 200 dollars per month.  If they are willing to take a cut in pay, we will run school 4 days/week to makes ends meet temporarily.  We need 4-5000 per month to pay salaries, payroll taxes, bus maintenance, electricity, water and fuels.   All donations are sent to Ukraine.