The devastating affects of poverty are destroying the lives of children
all around the world. Two of every twelve children under the age of 18
in the US alone live in poverty. Imagine the number worldwide. Millions
of young boys and girls grow up either without homes, parents or any of
the basic necessities of life. From the outset their lives are set for
failure and the recycling of suffering. In many homes severely low-incomes
prevent even the possibility of adequate meals let alone pay for necessary
clothing or school supplies. Children sleep huddled together in corners
of unheated shacks trying to keep warm. Such experiences result in high
rates of malnutrition, diseases and even teenage suicide. Many of these
innocent children turn to drug and alcohol abuse, premarital sex or gang
participation, taking the cycle of poverty into the next generation.
This isn’t the time for healthy caring people to simply ponder
the possibilities of change. It’s time to create change and end
the cycle of suffering.
Bless-A-Child (BAC) empowers locally run programs all around the world to address such issues as hunger, health, education, character, spiritual knowledge, and life skills. The goal is to positively affect the health and welfare of at-risk children making it possible and probable for them to live healthy happy lives.
Bless-A-Child reaches out to children
and youth with food, clothing, medical services, educational and mentoring
programs both in the United States and around the world.
Additionally, Operation Blessing enables many to enjoy the things often unappreciated like
a warm breakfast and healthy school lunch. Bless-A-Child offers many kids opportunities to be tutored in academics; mentored
in character development; and equipped with importance like skills encourages
their growth and development. This is done through clubs, after school programs,
a variety of creative arts institutes as well as sports programs.
Internationally we provide aid to orphans and other at-risk children
sending nutritious food, warm clothing, and other essentials. We make
a way for many of them to attend school for the first time. We help them
with the medical care needed so they can grow strong in body as well as
in mind.
Working with local centers OBI researches the needs of the children
within a community. They develop strategically creative ways that address
problems facing kids. Working through a network of caring people and
organizations we implement the plans and life changing programs. If
food, clothing, health items, educational supplies or other tangible
resources are needed we try to locate those products. We then ship them
so children receive the critical building blocks required for their
healthy growth and development. Where good role models or adult guidance
is needed OBI assists with organizing and empowering after school or
mentoring programs. Whatever the need Operation Blessing’s Bless-A-Child
program is designed to help change the world for children in need giving
them a bright future for their dreams.
Hundreds of thousands of young people have participated in the Bless-A-Child
programs of Operation Blessing. These programs presently exist in countries
including Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan,
Mexico, South Africa as well as United States.
Throughout the year dedicated Operation
Blessing center leaders and volunteers spend many hours pouring into the
lives of at-risk children and youth participating. To successfully change
the world of the children they touch resources are critical… food, medicine, educational supplies,
equipment, vitamins, school uniforms…and the list goes on. In cities
like Philadelphia we can use a $60 investment to help after-school
programs give kids nutritious snacks, improve their literacy and math
scores, and work on relationship skills for 3 months. In places like
Manila, Philippines we can literally save the life of severely malnourished
children; providing medical care, nutritious meals, immunizations,
education and maternal training until they grow healthy and strong
for around $400. So little can do so much to change the world for
precious children who live in poverty and pain.
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Highlights
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We helped 53,490 impoverished boys and girls in the United
States with school supplies and/or clothes.
18,639 children participated in Bless-A-Child 2005 programs across the
United States.
More than 844,090 children in the United States have received
clothing and school supplies through our children's outreach programs.
An additional 1.8 million children all over the world have
been given access to nutrition, health and educational programs
in their own communities.
Since 1984, over 3 million children have been helped through after-school mentoring programs, sports clinics, literacy programs, computer labs and more. |
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