For many children, a hug can make everything “all better.”

For orphans struggling to survive each day, a hug isn’t enough. AIDS and poverty are causing children to become orphans. Of the more than 143 million orphans worldwide, it is estimated that 15 million children have lost a parent due to AIDS. An additional 5 million children will likely become orphans due to AIDS by 2010. 

These children need more than a hug—they need food, shelter, and medical care. Many are dying of treatable diseases and starvation. Some are languishing in orphanages where there are few caregivers and resources. Others are exploited. 

As you can imagine, these kids have no hope that tomorrow will be better. In 2008, a Russian judge summarized a discussion he had with Bethany about orphan care in this way: “The best orphanage cannot replace a family.” Orphans need a family’s love and care to restore their well-being and hope for the future.

Bethany is called to help these children now.

As the nation’s largest adoption agency, Bethany cares for orphans in more than a dozen countries, including Zambia, Haiti, China, Romania, and Russia. Last year we celebrated completion of our 20,000th Intercountry Adoption. Because each country has its own unique combination of challenges and resources, the opportunities for Bethany to help orphans in other ways vary from country to country. 

Families are the solution to caring for orphans. We help strengthen families and provide resources for families to prevent children from becoming orphans. For example, Bethany has a food program for infants in Zambia. For children living on the street or in orphanages, we help return them to their biological parents or other families by setting up a foster care system (China, Romania). If returning a child to his or her family is not possible, we find an adoptive family, whether that family lives in the child’s country or in the U.S. 

Many government leaders turn to Bethany when it comes to caring for children with the toughest challenges, such as children born with birth defects, children with significant developmental delays, or siblings who want to stay together.    

Will you join me in Giving Hugs Around the World with a donation to help raise $30,000 before December 31, 2009? I’m starting with my personal gift of $100. Here are a few great ways your support can help right now:

 

$30 Hug could provide a month of milk and medicine so an infant in Zambia may stay with his or her mother.

 

$100 Hug could help Bethany find a family and prepare them to adopt an orphan.

 

$1,200 Hug could assist a family adopting 2 siblings from Ethiopia.

Please share this information with 5 friends so they can "Give Hugs Around the World" too! It’s easy to link this webpage (http://www.firstgiving.com/hugsfromNashville) to your Facebook page, or send the link in an e-mail.

 

Please call us toll-free at 1.866.851.2534 if you’d like to know more or to make a pledge and send your gift via check.

 

Hugs from Nashville,

Tammy Bass

Director, Bethany of Nashville