Christmas Bonanza - December 2008

‘Whispering Hope’ kept the spirit of loving and giving alive, all through the Christmas Season, by reaching out to a wide spectrum of children. As promised, the show started on 20th December at St. Mark’s Matriculation School, Perambur, Chennai. During the School’s annual concert, exciting prizes were distributed to the children who ranked 1 to 10 in class. The excitement and joy that filled these children knew no bounds and because of this, the other children were determined to do better in their studies. The parents who attended the concert were extremely happy that their children were felicitated in such a grand manner. We could not forget the hard work put in by the teachers all the year through and colourful saris were distributed to them as a token of our appreciation. There was also a gift for each of the support staff for the hard work that they do for the school, ensuring that the children are kept in a clean environment.

Bright and sunny was the 21st December, when Whispering Hope hit the road with children all set for a trip to the beach. The children hail from a Choolai slum, (Natesan Nagar), in Chennai. They came to my home where delicious chocolates – Cadbury Roses, all the way from England(!) were distributed to them. With a girly Santa Claus, a Mother Mary and Child Jesus, the group set off in a little truck. The children were deliriously happy and kept wishing everyone on the road a ‘Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’! We wound up at the Besant Nagar beach where mouth watering ‘aloo paratas’ and ‘kachoris’ were munched on. What’s a beach party without the icecream? And, icecream it was, for all the 20 kiddos and volunteers! After the snacks, there was a round of presents and then the children headed off to splash around in the sea. A most pleasurable day was had by one and all.

Whispering Hope also gave a helping hand to Rev. Fr Jayaraj who runs an orphanage in Malligaipuram near Kanchi. A donation was made towards the Christmas lunch and around 70 little goody bags given for the children. A few goody bags were also distributed to the children at the SALT Children’s Home in Tindivanam, near Pondicherry, and to little ones I met while driving along the village roads in the Thanjavur district.

Whispering Hope was also instrumental in distributing children’s clothes given by the sponsors to those in need. 2 Pressure cookers, a few saris and toys were also given to the needy. A little something to light up their miserable lives especially during the Christmas season – a time for loving and giving.

Whispering Hope remembered the pain and suffering that the terminally ill patients have with their battle against cancer and a hamper of toiletries, milk, dettol, etc. was presented to the Jeevodaya Cancer Hospice at Mathur, Chennai, on the 24th December. Delicious Gulab Jamuns were also given for the nursing staff and the patients to ensure that a ‘sweet’ Christmas was had by one and all. A further monetary contribution towards a day’s meal is soon to be made once the details are confirmed.

Whispering Hope also remembered the poor families taken care of by the Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph’s Church, Vepery, Chennai, and a sumptuous breakfast is to be given to these destitutes on the 18th January 2009.

Whispering Hope also enhanced the pension scheme and the beneficiaries are extremely happy with this small gesture from us.

Photographs are being uploaded - refer Photo Bucket/album named December 2008.

A big THANK YOU to the sponsors and volunteers

Whispering Hope would like to thank the sponsors who came forward to donate generously making our various Christmas programs a huge success. Without our many sponsors, we would not have been able to reach out to the various under privileged children and adults that we came across.

Special thanks go out to PR Balasubramaniam and another angel from Mumbai, V. Kumar from Bangalore, Biju & Sudha Damodaran and Pearl Nagaraj from Muscat, and Helen Bakes from Sydney who were instrumental in making the ‘Christmas Bonanza’ come true.

My good friends from Chennai : Mrs. Hermie Vanspall, Ordetta Mendoza, Jenny White (a big ‘thank you’ Jenny, for helping out with the pensions), and Monica Charles: Catherine Mendonza from Sydney, and Gertie Cobb from Melbourne, my aunts Philomena and Florence from the UK, Alun Long from the UK, and Bridgette White from Bangalore were kind enough to pitch in and help in the giving process.

Yvonne Ryan and her friend Barbara from the UK, Zafer Atici from Thailand, Juan Fradera and Prashant Mullasery from Singapore provided the lovely clothes, gifts and chocolates which were distributed fairly and squarely among the babies and children that we came across this festive season.

We would like to thank Mr. Yeshwanth Giri, Mr. Sivam, Mr. Umapathy, Mrs. Regina Raja, Mrs Lucia and her daughter Stella, Miss Judith, Mrs Sita, and Miss Rajkumari for the volunteer support rendered to make the Christmas Bonanza a huge success.

Thanks a million for all the help and we look forward to your continued support.

First Anniversary of Whispering Hope

Whispering Hope celebrated its 1st Anniversary on 8th December 2008. As a token of appreciation, and in return for all the help rendered thru the past, attractive custom made cotton Tshirts were distributed to the long term sponsors, volunteers and well wishers during the festive season. We pray that our efforts to spread God’s love and cheer among the down trodden will continue with renewed vigour during the coming year and add more meaning to our existence here on this planet. God bless each of you in a very special manner this year. Thank you very much for your generosity and continued support.