I am writing from the Mumbai trip to say that we are having a terrible time trying to connect our computers to the internet. The first hotel service was down and the next two accommodations don't even pretend to offer the service. So our blog will be a bit sparse for now. Two notes are written but sit on Dave's computer awaiting a connection.
We have been incredibly busy the past couple of days. The Rotarians here are amazing as they have collected all the items for the bedkits and spent a long time organizing and packing them together into the large white sacks. All the clothing has to be sorted female/male and by size in order that it fits correctly. The local Rotarians also make contacts with schools, orphanages, and other places in order to select the neediest of children. Then they arrange transportation to bring these wee souls to the
distribution sites. This can be a distance of up to about 50 km and travel in India is very slow so these trips can take a few hours at least. After the distribution the children pile into their often very tiny vehicles for the return trip. Snacks are provided for the children as they arrive and have to wait for us. This is all at the expense of the local Rotary Clubs. So their contribution is huge.
With all they do, they can't thank us enough. They are overwhelmed with the generosity of the people who contribute to this charity. They told us today that if we could send more money they could easily find the children. I don't doubt it at all since the poverty here is unbelievable.
If each donor could but see the joy in the eyes of one child receiving a bedkit, he or she would know that this gift to SCAW was worth every penny.
Cathy,
Signing off for the SCAW 2008 Mumbai Team
Doug, Ted, Dave, Marsha and Donna
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