We just returned from Armenia and Georgia, where we worked for the past month on Family Food Production projects. We felt amply rewarded, as we helped people improve their garden yields tremendously.
Friends in Armenia who work for another Charitable Foundation named the Foundation for Armenian Relief have just asked for our help on a project they’re working on.
They’ve received most of the money they need, but are short $500 to finish things up right for a group of orphans.
It’s not about gardening, but instead has a definite religious context. This may appeal to some of you and may NOT be of interest to others. The details are included below my comments.
If you feel you would like to help these good people do something for those orphaned children which most Armenians feel is very important, please consider sending a tax deductible donation in any amount to them by emailing Marina at far@web.am or sending to us and we’ll forward it.
You can 1) correspond directly with Marina at the FAR office – far@web.am; 2) go on the website www.growfood.com and visit the Give section; 3) send any amount to me through PayPal at jim@growfood.com, or 4) mail a check to the Food For Everyone Foundation, P. O. Box 581052, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158.
Timing is important for this particular need, but we ALWAYS welcome your participation in the work we are doing, so if you’d rather support a gardening training project, just specify that.
Following is the letter our friend Marina sent us, which explains what FAR is doing, and how the hoped-for $500 will be used.
From: Marina Bazayeva
Date: Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 7:20 AM
Subject: Re: Hello!
To: Araksya Gevorgyan
“Hello, Araksya jan (dear)!
Thank you for not forgetting me and your kind attitude. I also have good memories and hope it will continue. As for my job it is really hectic and the day flies.
“Araksya jan, I am doing a very little fundraising for one of our programs and I am writing to my friends, so if you could help me using your friends over there I would very much appreciate it.
“I want to ask you to help me organize a little donation for a FAR program in the amount of up to $500. My request concerns money for organizing a christening ceremony for orphans who are beneficiaries of the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program, which is under the auspices of the Women’s Guild of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
They are bringing crosses, towels from the States, co-funding baptizing expenses, and someone is donating bibles. So the only blank place is the refreshment ceremony and souvenirs for the children. I am given a task to do fundraising, which is not possible to do here.
The sum is really not huge but it will produce a huge effect. And it will be tax deductible, as are all donations to FAR, so I will give the FAR NY account and address so that the donor can make a tax deductible donation.
The money per se is necessary at the end of July but we need to know whether or not it will be available to know how to proceed. So if you could help me to organize it among your acquaintances there you would help me in a big way.
Pass my warmest congratulations to your brother and wish him happiness for me (Araksya’s brother is engaged). I am glad for him and for your family.
Love,
Marina
Thanks for reading this, and for giving it your consideration.
