Half The Sky : China Weather Crisis Update

Dear amazing friends,

I don’t have words to tell you what your stunning response to the crisis in China means to us all. The donations have been rolling in every few minutes. Unfortunately, urgent phone calls from orphanages in trouble have been rolling in as well. With your help though, we are determined to keep the children safe and well through this mess.

Latest reports tell us that this weather is likely to continue for another 10 days.

Because local governments are overwhelmed by the situation, it seems that there is, in many places, no relief beyond what we can provide. We have not been able to find news of any international relief organizations working on the ground although the China Red Cross is apparently providing some meals to stranded motorists.

As it is impossible to get new supplies of goods to the markets, costs of basic necessities are doubling, even tripling in some cases. We are now working with the Ministry of Civil Affairs (which has the responsibility of dealing with natural disasters nation-wide) to determine which institutions outside the HTS community need our help as well. We will continue funding the costs of basic goods until the money runs out.

In answer to some of your questions:

We can’t ship the necessary diapers, blankets, clothing, food ourselves.
There is no transport that can get through right now. We will continue working to find a way.

In the meantime, we are wiring funds where banks remain open. Where banks are closed, we are guaranteeing reimbursement to any citizen who funds the purchase of needed goods for the children.

In every case, the institutions are calling us to state the needs, we approve, and they know they must provide us receipts for all purchases.

I know that many of you have had trouble with our website and making sure that your donations are going to the Little Mouse Emergency Fund. I apologize for that. If you are concerned, you can send an email to donations@halfthesky.org to instruct us. We do know that most of the gifts coming in are intended for the fund. We’ve now placed a special “Little Mouse” button on our home page which will take you right to the fund page or you can get there by clicking http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?category=Little+Mouse+Emergency+Fund


If you are still having problems donating online, please try again. Or call us in the US at +1-510-525-3377 or in Asia at +852- 2520-5266 or by clicking on “Donate Now” or go to http://www.halfthesky.org/help/docs/usdonation-orderform.pdf to download a form to mail or fax. Donations are tax-deductible in US, Canada and Hong Kong.

I am going to send you another email with news about specific welfare institutions. I wanted to get this brief update out to you first.

And I wanted to tell you how deeply, deeply moved the orphanage directors, staff and all of us at Half the Sky are by your concern and your generosity.

What an amazing community we have!

I’ll be back with more news just as soon as I can compile all these notes.
Less than an hour, I promise!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jenny

Jenny Bowen
Executive Director
Half the Sky Foundation
www.halfthesky.org





China-Babies Research