One of the places I will be making a return visit to is Bengbu, located in Anhui province. This has really been a success story all around. And like all really great successes, this has been completely due to the outstanding, incredible, and dedicated people involved.
Click HERE to see a video of one of the more exotic meals in this region. It's called "Drunken Shrimp". Live shrimp are placed directly into a wine/soy sauce, and are eaten while they are still jumping! I thought they were good!
The project started with one adoptive parent, Marie Gonda, combing the internet to find some photos of her adopted daughter's orphanage city. She was able to contact a kind young man named Steven Tao. He volunteered to take some photos for her. Marie then forwarded Steven's contact information to Packages of Hope, and the rest, as they say, is history.
However, it has been hard earned history, all thanks to the support of everyone involved. We have wonderful donors, who have shown their solidarity and support of programs at the orphanage. We've had an increasing number of local volunteers, such as Lei Cheng, Sun Lele, and Kerrie (a teacher from Australia), to offer their assistance. In addition, we've had the good fortune of an open and communicative orphanage staff, who are willing to open their arms to our offers of support. All these elements put together have yielded incredible benefit to the orphanage children of Bengbu.
We've provided supplies,
We've provided beds,
We've provided milk powder,
A dish disinfecting machine,
Clothes,
and recently, computers for the children.
We have big plans for donating when the children move into their new orphanage location, including a playground, some air conditioners, and more furniture.
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