Saturday October 17th - BBQ fundraiser for the new Foyer de Sion Orphanage in front of Sam’s Club in beautiful Nampa.  We had a wonderful day working for the children in Haiti. The weather was incredible!  The customers were fantastic!  It was a HUGE success!!

We had non-stop business from noon until 2:30pm.  We sold hamburgers and hotdogs with chips and a drink.  We sold the hotdog combo for $2.50 and the hamburger combo for $3.50  After expenses, we made almost $150.00.

The kid’s did a phenomenal job. Zayne assisting with cooking and serving. Ke’ilani as cashier. Christian as support cashier and server. Special thanks to Becky Call, Mark and Amy Means for their support and donations of time and food to the cause. We also are very appreciative of Sam’s Club for allowing us to barbecue at their doors.

Of course thanks to those who dropped by to say hello, learn about the orphanage and support the cause of the Haitian Children!

It was a great experience and we plan to do it again!

Annie Blackstone, of Sion Fonds, is interviewed by KTVU for her efforts to raise awareness and funds for the educational efforts for Sion Fonds  and Foyer De Sion. This is a phenomenal interview and wish to thank Annie Blackstone for her efforts and KTVU for such a great job covering our story.

http://www.ktvu.com/video/21276501/index.html?taf=fran

If you don’t know Sion Fonds is a group under the direction of Guesno Mardy to help educate the children of Haiti.

Fantastic news for Foyer De Sion this week!

In July 2008 a group of volunteers from throughout the U.S., collected food and supplies for the children of Foyer de Sion.  There were so many amazing families involved in this effort; Woodwards, Harper-Lacey’s, Zahm’s, Luthi’s, Curzon’s, Schofield’s, Tripples, Jones’, not to mention agencies, friends, and families.  We apologize if we’ve missed some names.  Everyone worked very hard to make sure we had a full 40 foot container filled to capacity.  We gathered so many donations that some had to stay behind, but food was the main priority and all of that went.

The shipping process started in July of 2008 from the U.S.  The container finally arrived in Haiti in November of 2008. American Ocean Freight, our freight forwarder, was instrumental in helping us ship our container and finally getting it released this October 2009.  After almost a year of difficulty clearing the container, customs has finally cleared it and the children at Foyer are now eating the food!  Most of the food was preserved, praise God!  He’s the only one who could keep it safe.

We want to thank all those that took part in this tremendous effort.  We know that by small and simple measures great things are accomplished.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers and service for the children of Haiti!

Reported by Lindsay Crapo - International Adoption Facilitators
I have had the blessing and complete pleasure to travel to Haiti three times for a least a week each time between the months of April and July.

Within those trips, I was able to spend many hours and days with the children of Foyer de Sion. Singing, playing, administering medication, feeding, rocking to sleep and loving the amazing children of Foyer. During my visits I spent over ten days and nights living at Fontamara Orphanage.

The trip in July 2009, Dr. Chad Lowe (a physician working at the Mayo Clinic) and I were able to travel to Haiti; with an incredible donation from planting peace (Aaron Jackson’s organization) we were able to deworm ALL of the children and staff of Foyer, participating in the “Stomp the Worm “program. Here is a photo of Mr. John Du Boun from “Planting Peace”, we were able to meet up with him in Delmas and receive 700 pills from him.

FACT: 80% of the Haitian population is infected by intestinal parasites.

How is this program possible?

Planting Peace has revolutionized medical relief in Haiti and beyond through their “Stomp the Worm” program.”

In the month of July, I with Dr. Lowe, Miss Ulysses and a few in country Volunteers  worked non-stop to achieve the goal of dewormimg the Children and staff of Foyer.
I have received some emails wondering “why this was such a big deal”, and “whether the children were dewormed regularly anyway”.

The answer is yes. If a child in the Orphanage presents symptoms of worms or parasites, a stool sample would be taken and then that child, and possibly the children in close proximity would also be dewormed. However the opportunity and resources to deworm ALL children at the same time has been difficult. To be able to travel, deworm all of the children and first hand weigh and measure the children, documenting the administration and impact the medication had on the children was immeasurable.

The medication: Albendazole was administered to the children in tablet form.
For toddlers and infants, we would give half quantities, disintegrated in small medicine cups with water. Many of the children ate them right down or sucked on them much like a candy.  While some children were not fans of the taste at all and had to be coaxed and held to take it.

It is my with my deepest appreciation I thank, Dr. Lowe,  and his donation of his time travel, stay and skills to the children of Foyer, John Du Bon and the Planting Peace organization for the donation of the medication, Miss Ulysses and other nurses and staff whom aided us in administering to the children. To helpful individuals in country that helped keep records and hold babies, the individuals who supported this incredible effort to the FDS Board, my deepest thanks. I am so grateful to the women I work with daily at IAF; they saw this vision and supported it ten fold. Last but not least my complete gratitude, unwavering respect and support to Mr. and Mrs. Guesno Mardy, whom daily fight the on going battle of loving the children of Haiti and keeping the children of Foyer alive and healthy. It is my honor to know you, and work with you and the children of Foyer De Sion.

Lindsay Crapo, IAF