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Dear Fathers,

Greetings from Mwanza. Tanzania! I hope you had a blessed Easter.

I have received Poverty Alleviation Funds on behalf of Shaloom Care House, last year. I am writing to thank you and all of the parishioners and others whose generosity and compassion have brightened the lives of 40 orphans and vulnerable children here in Tanzania. With the funds we have been able to provide the preschool children of Shaloom with nutritional food on a daily basis. Each school day the kids, ages 3 to 7, receive fruit, probiotic yogurt, and porridge made from nutritious flour. They arrive not having eaten a thing and eat until their tummies are full, with nutrients to help them develop and grow up healthy. It truly makes a tremendous difference in their lives and it would not be possible without the generous donation from the Candle Money, offered at "The Mission” in Tenafly. Thank you so much.

With Candle Fund money the children also received Christmas presents, which for many was the first time in their lives. Each child received a pair of new shoes, a new outfit - dress for the girls, pants and shirt for the boys, a light jacket to wear in the rain (during the rainy seasons the kids walk for up to an hour with just short sleeves and flip flops), a little toy doll or car, and a notebook and pencil. These gifts made the children very happy and some were so overwhelmed that they had tears in their eyes. For most of them, having lost one or both their parents to HIV and living with a grandmother or other relative in a house with other kids and no steady income, there is barely enough money to keep everyone fed. So kids wear the same outfit day after day, and their shoes are broken or too small. Believe me when I say that this meant a lot to them.

Fathers, please accept my sincerest gratitude and please extend it to the parishioners and other kind people who made this a reality. Your and their caring and generosity has made a positive difference in the lives of some very grateful children in Mwanza, Tanzania.

May God bless you!

Peace and gratitude,
Lawreen McBride
SMA Lay Missionary