A little over a year ago, my friend Sonjelle posted a message on Facebook, asking for friends to help an organization she works, HardtHaven. HardtHaven is a home located in Ghana for young boys and girls who are AIDS orphans. Sonjelle spent time working there after she graduated college and has since become even more deeply involved in the organization.
In that post, Sonjelle asked for donations and so I asked her what I could send. The home needed fitted sheets for the children’s beds, and so I went online, found sheets for about a hundred dollars and sent them. Sonjelle recently sent me this email:
“I have a drawing for you from one of our children. He is a little boy who was rescued from child slavery. The first time he ever slept on a bed was when he was brought to HH, he uses one of the sheets that you donated! I thought it would be nice to know that not only was that donation of sheets incredibly useful (the incidence of ring worm went down significantly in the home after we we got those sheets, since now all of the children have bedding that could be washed instead of them sleeping directly on the mattress which was a reservoir of skin infections) it was a super huge treat to our new children.”
I had no idea that small amount of money could have that effect.
Right now, HardtHaven is trying to send their four eldest children to high school. The Ghana government guarantees all children the right to a free K-6 education, but high school costs $800 a term. If you’re interested, you can read about three of these children right now: Lebene, Minua, and Rosemund (the pdf files are mine).
Here’s my wish for the day: that we all take a moment and think about how much we can change the world for these children with an education. If you feel as strongly as I do, donate a dollar or two dollars (or more if you can). If everyone who read my blog donated just one dollar, we would guarantee one child an education. For the price of a candy bar.
I hope you click the button below and join me. Sonjelle has arranged it so that all the money donated from this site will go directly to these children’s education, and she’ll report back to me to let me know how we’ve done.
What do you say? Are you ready to make some magic happen?
done. thanks for sharing.
how awesome! I’m going to talk to the future hubby to see what we want to donate. yay!
It’s so great to get feedback about donations that you give – it’s really one of the nice things about donating to small organisations. Pus you know that the money is being spent in places that need it most and not on administration costs. This is such a great way to help HardtHaven and your friend out.
I absolutely love this. I am definitely going to help out as soon as I am done with classes today.
thank you for sharing this story brandi! this is such a great thing you are doing~
Just donated! This is a wonderful cause and I am glad you shared this with us today. Thank you!
update: we just donated, and I think your link for Rosemund isn’t working.
I think it’s wonderful that you did that Brandi, how gratifying to get the feedback on those sheets and know that you’re making a difference so directly! I love Kiva because they let you know as the people you helped pay back their loan dollar by dollar. But to help children feels even more gratifying. I just donated, hoping you’ll keep us posted!
xo Mary Jo
what a beautiful way to start my morning. I will most definitely be donating!
Donated, my dear. I love that you had this post today. I hope that we can all collectively make a huge difference! xo.
Collectively the small can become huge. This is a hard concept for some people to grasp. Sometimes I think people are afraid to donate for fear their donation is too small. Thanks for sharing! Donated
i’ve done it as well. thanks for sharing this, lovely lady! you’re helping to make a real difference in the lives of kiddos in need. what a wonderful gift to the world that is (and you are)!
just donated!! Awesome post today Brandi.
p.s I have been waking up at 6:30 this entire week!!
Your post was inspirational.
you are such a special soul, and such a sweet spirit. how beautiful to see the fruits of your goodness:) i just know that must have touched you to see those sweet children on those sheets!
I find causes like this equally heart-breaking and inspiring. I don’t have much to give but a little goes a long way, I hope everyone else sees it this way.
That’s amazing, Brandi! So awesome to hear a success story like that, too! I wouldn’t have thought that bed sheets could do so much!
I’m tearing up reading this – really puts things in perspective doesn’t it? I’d be happy to donate to such an amazing thing – it’s people like your friend that inspire me!!
done! i really hope we can send at least one kid to school! i will re-post on facebook too. thanks brandi… as always, you are an inspiration:) xo
Wow! That is so neat that she emailed you and let you know how you made a difference. thanks for sharing. Definitely bookmarking this post for future donations.
Who knew sheets could mean so much?
I’ll put in a little bit, too. It’s so good to hear how your gift actually impacts people and see it being used directly.
I think Lebene is a girl after my own heart–she loves English and is not so fond of math! I hope you & your readers are able to help her get to school.
this is a great organization to contribute to. it’s wonderful to know how your help translates. you’re absolutely right that every act makes a huge difference. thank you for sharing.
Brandi thank you for sharing! I donated. Hope we can get all three of them off to school. Have a wonderful thursday.
Thanks for sharing this Brandi! After reading this blog post, there was no way I could not donate. I appreciate your support of your friend and her incredible passion for this organization.
Done, happy to help, she’s amazing, great post!
Wow. What a touching story. I bookmarked the site so when I’m done with school I can apply to volunteer