In Our Own Backyard....

I see things ALL the time asking to help people in other countries...on TV, newspapers, radios, little flyers on the bulletin boards at the grocery store, heck even here on the computer. I always wonder..are these legitimate charities?? How will I know that anything I do will REALLY go where it says it will go?? That may be a bit of ignorance on my part. I don't want a pat on the back if I've done something good, but I sure as heck want my 'good' to go where I wanted it to go!! =)

Well, guess what?!?! I seen one the other day on my FB and decided to follow it and check it out and really get a feel for these people. Okay...I have to tell you I 'know' them. Heck I bet ALOT of you that are reading this know them. It's Gretchen and Bill Almquist.

What do they have to do with this you ask...

They adopted a baby girl from Ethiopia. Actually today was her 'readoption' to become a U.S. Citizen. CONGRATULATIONS!

I have been reading Gretchen's blog 'Passport to Africa' for quite awhile now. I actually have been thinking about writing a little post about this subject and them for awhile. I saw that today Yohanna became a U.S. Citizen and thought what better day than today!! Gretchen sure is a proud Momma, not just of one child that 'grew' in her heart but of 3 others that 'grew' in her womb. Either way there IS love at ALL times...It is a humbling sight.

Bill, Gretchen and her friends decided to start a non-profit organization. It's called 'Delivering Hope'. $400.00 was raised for Christmas Hope. The money was delivered to Ethiopia,for the staff and children at Shalom's Children's Hope Orphanage. THAT'S awesome! Check out their site, they have arm bands and T-shirts that you can buy to support this organization...remember ALL non-profit. A little really does go along way...

I just thought I'd share this since it's a charity to help someone oceans away right here in our own backyard. It's real. It's done with love, not out of pity, and not because someone is making them do this. It is in their hearts, in their thoughts, and for Gretchen it is something she sees daily, it is in the eyes that came from that far away land. A daily reminder of the Hope that she desperately longs to Deliver...