News Update
January 2010:
- Medical Clinic Dedicated in Memory of Rachel
Craig
- Construction For New Farm Village (It
Takes a Village)
- A Letter of Thanks For "The
Grannies Fund"
- Dr. Maura Lynch; A Special Volunteer (newsletter.pdf)
Your Help is Urgently Needed
During the current economic world crisis, we have experienced a decrease in our donations at a time when the cost of food in the countries we serve has increased dramatically to the point of catastrophe. Read More
MAILING ADDRESS
Please note that our mailing address is:Michael's House Inc.,
Post Office Box 856,
Burtonsville, MD 20866 USA
HOPE AND DIGNITY RESTORED TO THE DESTITUTE
ELDERLY
Michael's House is Changing lives – right now
Michael’s House Inc. is a non-profit grassroots organization
that serves the elderly poor in the developing world who have become invisible,
who receive no funds from government organizations or other large aid foundations.
It is through gifts that they now have a face and dignity in their daily
lives. We bring aid to the lives that others have deemed hopeless.
We welcome you to learn more about our organization and programs so that you can make a difference. We have a variety of projects underway in Ethiopia and Uganda, and we'll be working to expand to other third-world countries.
We can only do this with your generous help. Please take a moment to learn about some of our activities and the Funds that support them.
Contributions to Michael’s House are tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Code section 501c(3)
URGENT NEEDS
"We have made a commitment to hundreds of destitute elderly in third world countries who will fall between the cracks if we don't help them. We cannot renege on our promise. It is absolutely not an option.
During the current economic world crisis, the immediate need for Michael's House is to be able to continue to support our current daily expenses; food, shelter, pensions, medicines and surgeries. Recently, we have experienced a decrease in our donations at a time when the need and the cost of food in the countries we serve has increased dramatically to the point of catastrophe.
We desperately need your continued financial support so that we will be able to perform these daily "miracles' to support the most indigent of the world's elderly population.
Please give whatever you can afford and help us also by introducing our unique projects to your church, friends or workmates.
Volunteers from Michael's House Inc. are available to make a presentation to your group if it would help." - Michael Craig, Founder
FEATURED STORIES
Meet Mora an 83 year-old woman who was a secretary at the Italian embassy in Addis for several years. She is a dignified tall woman even in the rags she wears to keep her warm. In her fluent Italian, she explained her spiral downwards to her present sad status. She had five children all of whom died as adults. Her husband got meningitis and as a result was brain damaged. She had to leave her job to take care of him. He lived for several years. When he died she took in her eldest granddaughter who later succumbed to HIV/AIDS. Mora inherited her three great grandchildren who are now aged 8, 5 and 4 years old. She lost the little room she lived in and now lives with the children under a piece of corrugated iron propped up against the wall of a bus shelter. With no pension, health care or even relatives this still dignified woman finds a little support, sustenance and above all respect at Michael's House through your generosity.
Mulnet Agu is an 84 year-old
man who in his young days was a soldier in the army of the Emperor Haille
Selasie. He never married and has no living relatives. He lives on a soldier’s
pension of 14 birr a month, which is about $1.50.
His eyesight is very bad and sometimes he gets lost and often mugged. Terfa
(a Michael’s House Volunteer) found him living in a cardboard box on the
street not far from Michael's House. He was desperate, frightened
and barely had the strength to fight off the wild dogs that roam the streets. Through
your generosity, Michael’s House is now able to provide him with one meal
a day and the love and respect of community he receives at Michael’s House.
THE $30 MIRACLE
Mfin is a 64 year-old woman who, in her poverty and
old age, has been struck with a double tragedy. She has lost her only son
and his wife due to HIV/AIDS and as a result she became the custodian of
her four orphan grandchildren. She rapidly became blind due to cataracts,
which meant that she could not even see the precious children she cared
for so lovingly. It’s hard to comprehend the devastation of her being dependent
on these little children. They had to take her hand and lead her through
the bush to the well and to the toilet. They had to take turns going to
school because someone had to be with their grandmother. Imagine her joy
when after her first eye was operated on, and the cataract removed, she
could again see her little grandchildren. Soon afterwards, her second eye
was operated on and now she is fully sighted. We are told that there wasn't
a dry eye in the clinic when she, crying with joy, kissed the faces of
her grandchildren and the hands of the surgeon. This miracle cost $30.
Each month, we pay for cataract operations for four (4) aged blind people. With your continued help, we intend to be able to restore sight to ten (10) aged people a month. Please help us reach our goal by donating to The Agape Project.