Hope Africa Fundraiser

: Lorraine Bumstead, Tanner Whidden, and Lori Clark are all members of the Hope Africa board of directors. They help organize and promote events to raise funds for Hope Africa.

: Linda Mould, Julie McGuire, Vanna Drinkall, Brian Warren, and Bill Briscoe prepare for a hectic afternoon of barbecuing.

: Grace Bumstead Spins to Win! There was opportunity to win Hope Africa merchandise or Overwaitea bonus Save on More points.

: The Hope Africa orphanage in Uganda with the volunteers. This photo is from the Hope Africa website.

By Anne Margaret MacDonald
Hope Africa grilled up hot dogs to combat the hunger of both Fort Nelsonites and children in Uganda, in different ways, of course. A barbecue was held in the Overwaitea parking lot during the afternoon of June 4th where all proceeds were donated directly to the Hope Africa orphanage, located in Kabale, Uganda. In total, $2,081.40 was raised.
The Hope Africa orphanage is home to 62 children between the ages of one and twenty that, since 2008, has received tremendous Fort Nelson support after local Katie Streeper joined in an official partnership with the founders of the Hope Africa orphanage. In the past five years she has been back four times, for a total of 21 months. Through donations, sponsorships, and fundraisers, they have been able to provide the children with adequate living quarters, equipped with:
• individual beds and mosquito nets to help diminish the chance of getting malaria or other bug carried ailments;
• a cooking area;
• showers;
• routine medical/dental check-ups;
• education for every child;
• a nutrition program where children receive three meals a day and where daily consumption of fruit is strived for;
• electricity, and
• unlimited access to water via an on-site well.
Some other accomplishments include the hiring of six workers to care for the children on a daily basis. They have also established a home-visit program where children are able to visit their home villages so they can nurture family bonds and learn about where they came from. There have been a large number of local sponsorships of individual children in the orphanage. A yearly donation is accepted and put towards helping the orphanage pay for school fees/supplies, meals, hygiene, medical needs, and clothing for a child.
Tanner Whidden, one of the local Directors for Hope Africa says, “The people here in Fort Nelson are our biggest support. Not only are they the ones who come to these events and support us here, but they are the ones who sponsor a majority of the kids one to one.” Hope Africa sells merchandise year-round, and holds various fundraisers throughout the year. Their next planned fundraiser is an outdoor dance at the Art Fraser Memorial Park set for August 24th, permits pending. To learn more about Hope Africa visit the website:
www.supporthopeafrica.com.