Elementary School Student Raises $177.85 for Tsunami Relief
(Posted: April 8, 2005, 3:30 p.m., PST)

Andrea Merlotti, an elementary school student from Go Like the Wind Montessori School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has raised $177.85 for VeAhavta's tsunami relief efforts. Acting on her own, Andrea organized and conducted a used book sale to raise the funds and donated all of the proceeds to VeAhavta on March 14.

Our very special thanks to Andrea for her wonderful efforts! Thank you so much for your kindness!

Andrea Merlotti of Go Like the Wind Montessori School

Word from Sri Lanka: "Everyone is OK"
(Posted: March 28, 2005, 1:30 p.m., PST)

As many may have already heard, there was a major earthquake termed an "aftershock" measuring 8.2 magnitude on the Richter scale off the coast of North Western Sumatra at 9.15pm yesterday Sri Lankan time. This event led to numerous tsunami warnings being issued around the Indian Ocean with particular emphasis on those areas recently hardest hit by the last tsunami in December.

In light of this, I just spoke with Mr. Hiram Lebroy of Grace Care Center as of an hour ago (2:30AM Sri Lankan time), and he told me that "Everyone is OK." That they had received the warnings by the government and had loaded all the girls and staff onto the bus and driven about three kilometers inland to safety until given the "all clear", while Hiram remained behind to watch over the property and for incoming water.

Hiram seemed in very good spirits all things considered and I could not be more thankful to hear his voice and assurance that everything was "OK".

~ Steven Boothe (VeAhavta - staff volunteer)

Northside Elementary School, Ann Arbor Michigan, Raises $1,278 for Grace Care Center
(Posted: March 15, 2005, 5:00 p.m., PST)

Once again, children have reached out to help children.

Northside Elementary in Ann Arbor, Michigan, sponsored a school-wide Coin Drive for the Grace Care Center orphanage. Student Council members, along with two teacher representatives, Rick Dekeon and Nick Mosher, hung posters around the school, wrote articles for the Northside Newsletter and the hometown newspaper (Ann Arbor News) explaining the purpose of the Coin Drive. In addition, they decorated a school bulletin board with photos from the orphanage, a map of Sri Lanka and a scale that measured the amount collected each week. Each classroom had a collection jar for coins, with weekly announcements from the school principal, Kevin Karr, encouraging students to scout for loose change at home. Teachers and staff contributed as well! At the end of the drive, Northside Students collected $1278.00!

Our special thanks to the students, teachers and staff of Northside Elementary School for their kindness and generosity toward our children in Sri Lanka! Great job everyone!

Northside Elementary School Student Council representatives pose for a photograph in front of the school bulletin board

Shady Side Middle School Students Raise $1,012 for Tsunami Relief
(Posted: March 15, 2005, 4:00 p.m., PST)

Our heartfelt thanks go out today to the Form II Class of Shady Side Academy Middle School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for raising $1,012 for VeAhavta's tsunami relief programs.

The Form II Class decided to have a fundraiser in which the eighth grade students contributed their own money and their parents matched their contributions. They also held a “dress down day” during which all middle school students wore casual clothes to school and donated money on campus.

Thanks so much to the Form II Class students and their advisor for all of their efforts for our neighbors in Sri Lanka!

Grace Daycare Children Receive "Care Kits" From Children of Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School, San Luis Obispo
(Posted: March 10, 2005, 4:00 p.m., PST)

We are very pleased to report that on February 17, the children of VeAhavta's Grace Daycare program in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, have received the special "Care Kits" assembled and donated by the students of Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School in San Luis Obispo, California.

The Care Kits were presented to VeAhavta president Eric Parkinson and VeAhavta’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rushdi Abdul-Cader, by the school principal Mr. Brian Getz and kindergarten teacher Kathy Foster during an assembly at the school on January 25. Eric then took most of the kits with him to Sri Lanka on his recent trip. (Special thanks, yet again, to Singapore Airlines for waiving all excess baggage charges!) The remaining kits were shipped to the Grace Care Center separately.

Each of the 100 small backpacks contained, among other things, clothing, toiletries, paper and colored pencils.

Our very special thanks to the staff and students of Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School and to Dr. Nisha Abdul-Cader for their kindness. The children of Grace Daycare will be deeply moved by your kindness and were thrilled to receive your gifts! Thank you so much.

Grace Daycare children receiving "Care Kits" assembled and donated by the students of Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School

Grace Daycare Children Receive Handmade Crafts and Warm Wishes From The Children of Temple Beth El in Riverside, California
(Posted: March 10, 2005, 4:00 p.m., PST)

Our very special thanks to the children of Temple Beth El in Riverside, California, for making handcrafts for the children of VeAhavta's Grace Daycare program in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The handcrafts were delivered to the daycare children on February 17 and were received with much joy! Along with the handcrafts was a card from Temple Beth El that expressed warm wishes and concerns for the children. The card was translated and read to the children and the response was one of amazement: they were so surprised and touched that children from hallway around the world were thinking of them and took the time to make them such beautiful handcrafted gifts. Thank you so much to the caring children of Temple Beth El and to the adults who organized this wonderful program!

Left: Children of Grace Daycare receiving handcrafts made for them by the children of Temple Beth El in Riverside, California. Right: Rev. Jeyanesan with a child from the daycare program holding the card from the children of Temple Beth El.

Alles Gardens Fishermen Receive Fishing Nets Through VeAhavta's New "Life Boats" Program
(Posted: March 10, 2005, 4:00 p.m., PST)

As part of VeAhavta's new "Life Boats" program, fishermen from the former Alles Gardens IDP camp received new fishing nets as an interim measure to assist them while VeAhavta implements its new program.

The goal of the "Life Boats" program, which was developed primarily by VeAhavta volunteer Lynn Helland (an attorney from Ann Arbor, Michigan) is to supply the fishermen of Alles Gardens with 4 new fishing boats (including motors and all nets) so that they can begin to earn a living again. A written agreement between VeAhavta and the fishermen's union was drafted by Lynn, reviewed by union and government leaders, and executed by all parties a week ago. Pursuant to the agreement, each fisherman that is provided with a new boat will contribute the first 25% of his earnings to pre-selected needy families from the former Alles Gardens IDP camp (families consisting of primarily single mothers and the disabled), and the next 25% is to be contributed to the fishermen’s union to purchase additional boats for the program. VeAhavta expects to order the boats for the program this week.

Our heartfelt thanks go to VeAhavta volunteer Lynn Helland for developing and implementing the "Life Boats" program while he was in Sri Lanka between February 20 and March 7!

Alles Gardens fishermen pose for a photograph at the Grace Care Center with Rev. Gnanpragasam, Eric Parkinson and their new nets, which were donated by VeAhavta pursuant to its new "Life Boats" program

Additional Photos Taken By First Two VeAhavta Medical Teams
(Posted: March 10, 2005, 11:45 a.m., PST)

We have received several additional photographs of the Grace Care Center and the Kinniya area that were taken by members of VeAhavta's first two medical teams. For prints of these photos, please contact Dr. Steve Reichel. The view the photos, please click on the links to the right of the photo below:

A Time of Brotherhood: Photo of a banner raised near the Kinniya field hospital that was started by the first two VeAhavta Medical Teams

 

Album 1
Album 2
Album 3
Album 4
Album 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our thanks to the members of the first two medical teams for sharing these special photos with us.

Eric Parkinson Issues Report Regarding Status of the Grace Care Center and VeAhavta Tsunami Relief Programs
(Posted: March 4, 2005, 3:00 p.m., PST)

VeAhavta president Eric Parkinson has authored a report summarizing his observations made at the Grace Care Center during his recent trip to Sri Lanka (Feb. 17-27) and the status of VeAhavta's tsunami relief programs. You may view the report here in either HTML or in PDF format (requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®).

Rev. Jeyanesan Issues Sixth Report Regarding Tsunami Disaster & Relief Efforts
(Posted: March 4, 2005, 1:30 p.m., PST)

Rev. Jeyanesan has authored a sixth report summarizing the tsunami disaster and the relief efforts conducted so far. You may view the report here in either HTML or in PDF format (requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®).

The Story of Alles Gardens
(Posted: March 4, 2005, 1:30 p.m., PST)

Eric Parkinson has written an article about the people of the Alles Gardens refugee camp. You may view the article here in either HTML or in PDF format (requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®).

Fifth Graders at Bach School, Ann Arbor Michigan, Raise $1,066 for Tsunami Relief
(Posted: March 4, 2005, 1:30 p.m., PST)

Our heartfelt thanks go out today to the fifth grade students of Bach School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The fifth grade classes held a series of ten bake sales to raise money for tsunami victims. Students baked, sold and bought goodies for five weeks and raised $950. The P.T.O. donated another $200 for a total of $1150. The funds were personally delivered to the Grace Care Center by a parent of a Bach student, Dr. Gina Amalfitano, who is currently volunteering there with VeAhavta’s Medical Team.

Thanks so much to the students, to their inspirational teacher – Tina Ezekiel, to Dr. Gina Amalfitano, and to her husband, David Cappaert for all of their efforts!

Fifth grade students from Bach School, Ann Arbor Michigan, pose for a photograph

VeAhavta T-Shirts Donated by Promotion Plus of San Luis Obispo
(Posted: March 4, 2005, 1:30 p.m., PST)

Once again, VeAhavta extends a very special thanks to Ernie Roide, owner of Promotion Plus in San Luis Obispo, for donating over 350 specially-designed t-shirts to VeAhavta for the children of Grace Home and Grace Daycare, the staff of the Grace Care Center and for our volunteers and donors.

The team at Promotion Plus designed the shirts and Eric Parkinson, the president of VeAhavta, delivered the shirts to the Care Center on his recent trip to Sri Lanka. The front of each shirt is emblazoned with the VeAhavta logo and the back of each shirt looks like the image to the right.

VeAhavta will give one shirt to each of our volunteers and one shirt to each person who donates $100 or more to any of our programs (please specify size).

Ernie and Promotion Plus have previously donated specially-designed t-shirts for the Grace Care Center children and staff, polo shirts for our medical relief teams and promotional coffee mugs and refrigerator magnets.

Thank you so much, Ernie and Promotion Plus, for your tremendous generosity and kindness toward our children and volunteers!

VeAhavta in the News
(Posted: February 26, 2005, 6:00 p.m., PST)

West Makes Trip to East

By James Mitchell
Editor's note: HomeTown Newspapers reporter James Mitchell is traveling with and helping a group of volunteers who are providing medical assistance and assessing what it will take to rebuild an orphanage and senior home in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.

[Correction by VeAhavta: While this is truly a beautiful article, it also states incorrectly that Grace Care Center's "orphanage and elders senior home were destroyed", this is explicitly not true. The orphanage was indeed damaged, but miraculously the damage was only light to moderate(!!!), and being that the senior home was still under construction it only sustained loss of building materials(!!!). See the reports from Rev. Jeyanesan below for more details.]

DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Trincomalee, Sri Lanka - When she left Fowlerville to spend two weeks in Sri Lanka, Sue-Anne West felt guilty. Her grandson's second birthday party was planned for early the next week - a Chuck-E-Cheese affair with all the electronic entertainment.

On Tuesday night, West was at another party, without arcade games or music videos. At the Grace Care Center orphanage in Trincomalee, 102 girls put on a talent show for the group of volunteers from the nonprofit group VeAhavta. When the display of singing, dancing, acting and poetry reading was concluded, the party continued into the night, mixing traditional and modern tunes.

West had the time of her life. She doesn't normally dance, but when a small hand grabbed her wrist to urge her participation on the crowded floor, she couldn't resist.
(continue reading the complete article here)

VeAhavta in the News
(Posted: February 22, 2005, 9:00 p.m., PST)

Relief crew descends on Trincomalee

By James Mitchell
Editor's note: HomeTown Newspapers reporter James Mitchell is traveling with and helping a group of volunteers who are providing medical assistance and assessing what it will take to rebuild an orphanage and senior home in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.

Daily Press & ARGUS

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka - Red-eyed, travel-weary and glowing with anticipation, a band of 13 volunteers arrived from Michigan and received a warm welcome Sunday by more than 100 orphan girls at Grace Care Center.

Dr. Muhammed Nadeemullah, a Brighton doctor, and Sue-Ann West, a Fowlerville resident and counselor, helped the crew unload boxes and luggage filled with medicine, medical equipment and teddy bears that delighted the girls. The members of the volunteer group have paid their own way for the two-week trip and are working through VeAhavta, an organization that built the orphanage and a center for aging residents who have nowhere else to go.
(continue reading the complete article here)

Eric Parkinson Sends Update From Sri Lanka
(Posted: February 19, 2005, 1:30 p.m., PST)

Eric Parkinson, President of VeAhavta (California) has sent his first report summarizing his initial experiences upon returning to Grace Care Center since the tsunami disaster.
You may view his report here in either HTML or in PDF format (requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®).

February Tsunami Fundraiser Events:
sponsored by the loving folks at Twin Cities Community Hospital, Templeton California
(Posted: February 16, 2005, 11:00 p.m., PST)

1. February 9th Bake Sale, Front Lobby, from 9:00-11:00 and 2:00-3:30 - Health Information Management
2. February 11th Root Beer Floats, DDR, from 2:00-3:00pm Lab and Admitting
3. February 15th and 24th Book Sale, Front Lobby, from 11:00-1:00pm - Information Systems/Engineering/Respiratory Therapy
4. February 15th - 17th Silent Auction - Perioperative Services
5. February 22nd Luncheon, DDR, 11:30-1:30 - Cost $5.00 - Radiology Department
6. February 25th Car Wash - Administration
7. February 28th BBQ, Parking Lot, 3:30-6:30 Cost $8.00 - OB Department
8. Emergency Department is selling Monkey Grams - $5.00 each

Cal Poly "Students for Tsunami Relief" and Cal Poly Community Center Host "Tsunami Fund Run" in San Luis Obispo
(Posted: February 10, 2005, 4:00 p.m., PST)

A 5K "Tsunami Fund Run" to benefit VeAhavta's tsunami relief efforts will be held on March 5, 2005, at Laguna Lake Park in San Luis Obispo.

Cal Poly "Students for Tsunami Relief" and the Cal Poly Community Center are organizing and hosting the run/walk, which will start at 11:00 a.m. For more information about the event, click here. To register for the event, click here to (requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®).

Our special thanks to Professor Nina Truch, Cal Poly students Mario Migliore and Melanie Rhoads, and to all of the many other wonderful Cal Poly students for their efforts to help with this and other fundraising and awareness-raising events at Cal Poly.

Little Hands, Big Hearts: How Two 8-Year-Olds Have Changed the World
(Posted: February 3, 2005, 3:00 p.m., PST)

We have an extraordinary story to share with you about two 8-year-old boys from New Jersey whose loving kindness has changed the world for people all over the country and for our children in Sri Lanka.

Brendan Hennessy and Ryan Ricco are not your typical 8-year olds. When Brendan was 7, he was hospitalized for several days for seizures. When he was finally released, Brendan was given a present from the hospital staff as a reward for being such a brave little guy during his stay. Feeling a deep sense of empathy for other children who may have had the same experience, Brendan organized a toy drive for the hospital and later delivered two van loads of toys.

When he found out about the tragedy in Southeast Asia, Brendan again started thinking about all the children who had been affected. So, Brendan and his best friend Ryan Ricco decided to do something to help. They “adopted” the Grace Care Center and started “Operation Sweet Dreams” as a way to tell the children in Sri Lanka that there were other children in the world who were thinking about them and trying to help. For “Operation Sweet Dreams,” Brendan and Ryan started collecting Teddy Bears and light-weight blankets to send to the children of the Grace Care Center so that they could have something to snuggle with when times are scary and maybe even help them have a night with sweet dreams instead of nightmares.

And now these two remarkable boys are collecting – in addition to Teddy Bears and blankets – sheets, small toys, other stuffed animals, school supplies, books and art supplies. And they have been overwhelmed with donations!

They have even started their own website named, “Little Hands Big Hearts: Kids Helping Kids” so that even more children can join them. To read more about them and get involved, click here.

Thank you Brendan and Ryan for teaching us adults that changing the world is a dream only if we treat it as a dream. Thank you for demonstrating an audacious faith that is so frequently found only in children. You have reminded us that dreams can become reality when we have the love, courage, faith and tenacity to act for the benefit of others. You have changed the world for some very special children.

Want to know how these two extraordinary kids will get all that they have collected over to Sri Lanka? Stay turned and you’ll see. Because as long as they have the faith of a child, nothing can stop them.

Ann Arbor “Children to Children” Campaign Raises $2,432 in Tsunami Relief Funds
(Posted: February 3, 2005, 3:00 p.m., PST)

The children continue to amaze!

The students of Daycroft Montessori School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, have raised and donated $2,432 for our tsunami relief efforts and they did it with milk cartons.

Through their “Children to Children” campaign, the students (preschool through sixth grade) saved their milk cartons from school and filled them with change; they donated money from their piggy banks, did jobs around their homes and had a school bake sale to raise the funds.

The school heard about VeAhavta’s efforts through one of our volunteers, Dr. Naresh Gunaratnam, and some of the students had even been corresponding with our Grace Home children before the tsunami hit.

Dr. Gunaratnam will be bringing cards from the Daycroft students to the Grace Home children during his visit to Sri Lanka this month.

On behalf of our wonderful children in Sri Lanka, thanks so much to our wonderful children of Daycroft Montessori School! May your kindness and selflessness be an inspiration to anyone who doubts the power of Love.

Some of the Daycroft Montessori School students pose for a photograph