Hogar El Retoño

Saturday we packed up a box of baby clothes, blankets, toys, etc. and took it to a children's home, called Hogar El Retoño. There are 40 little ones there right now, ages 20 days to 3 years. We didn't get to spend much time there, actually hardly any. We didn't even get to see the children, just dropped off the box to a very nice lady. Our babies were fussing and we had to park a little ways down the street, but we would like to go back and just hold them, you know? With 40 little boys and girls, there is probably a lot more to do besides holding them, but when I hold my two it's hard for me to imagine other little children not having someone there just to hold them.

But, before I get long-winded, the point of this post is to invite y'all to help us help them! And some other orphanages here... It's so easy, and there are so many children here who need help.

Here is our plan:
If you go to Wal-Mart, Target...wherever, and along with your normal shopping buy a little doll, or a toy car, or a puzzle, or a pack of socks, or a coloring book, or some baby bottles or baby wash, toothbrushes, etc., and then send it to our APO address, that would be great! Seriously, it would be so easy! They don't even have to be big things: clearance stuff, the Target dollar section, whatever! Save them up and send them, and we'll get them to someone who could really use the items. That's what we've started doing; when we order stuff online, or go to the store, we get something little that would be needed/wanted by a child.

And sending stuff to our APO costs the same as shipping within the States. I think you hafta fill out a form, though, so maybe not quite as easy, but not that difficult, and costs the same. Let us know if you need our address.

Here's a bit of info about Hogar El Retoño, and a couple of others (The embassy has checked these places out, and they passed the test to be considered “not shady.”):

Hogar Retoño -- right now has 40 children. It's a specialized center for high risk babies 0-3 years old, abandoned, undernourished, abused, HIV+ or are otherwise high risk. Generally, these babies are from the family courts of law. They accept all kinds of things that may be beneficiary for the babies (diapers, pacifiers, bottles, clothes, shoes, toys, medicines, educational materials, etc.) **Talking to the lady, she said they get more clothing donations than other stuff, so toys and non-clothing items would be needed more. I mean, they still need clothes, they just get those more often than other things...**

Hogar La Siembra -- right now has about 12 kids (ages 3-7) This orphanage is for groups of siblings in order not to separate them in different institutions. Clothes, shoes, toys, books, anything you would like to donate for young kids is welcomed.

Hogar Divina Providencia -- Catholic orphanage, for schoolgirls ages 5-13. Right now they have 12 girls, and 8 more that are stay only the day. They need things such as clothes, shoes, books, games, etc.

Also, Zac is a good friend of a security guard at work who is the bishop of a pretty poor ward here in Montevideo. This is so easy: We give him shampoo, bread, shoes, just basic stuff, and he gives it to needy church members.

These are just a very few of the organizations that need help, so if anyone is able to send anything, that's awesome! If not, we are not talking to you anymore. Oh, ha! Joking! Really, don't feel obligated, we just wanted to extend the opportunity to do some pretty direct giving. Any questions, of course, just ask... Thanks!