November 1, 2024

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support for The Village of Hope Romania. Your generosity has been a lifeline for many families, especially during these challenging times.

Today, I’d like to share the story of the Popescu family, whose struggles highlight why your contributions are so essential.

Elena is a single mother raising her two sons, Florin (12) and Stefan (11), entirely on her own. Life for Elena is a daily battle, as she works tirelessly to provide for her family. The boys’ father left when Florin was just 7 months old, and Elena was already pregnant with Stefan. Since then, Elena has carried both the financial and emotional burden for the family.

This year has been particularly tough—medical expenses for the children, back-to-school costs, and now, the looming winter has pushed this family to their limits. When asked how she copes with it all, Elena simply replied, “I do whatever it takes.”

The family’s home, inherited from Elena’s late parents, is in poor condition, with only a stove and blankets to keep warm as Romanian winters dip below -10°F. The house is small, lacks basic amenities, and maintaining a sense of comfort during the harsh winter months is nearly impossible. The extra strain of preparing for winter has added even more pressure on Elena’s already stretched finances.

This year, Florin and Stefan were able to attend our Summer Camp, where they participated in personal development workshops and fun recreational activities. The boys came home full of joy, telling us they can’t wait to return next year.

Thanks to your faithful support we’ve been able to support the Popescu family by providing food, clothing, medicine, and school supplies every month.

For families like Popescu’s, this support isn’t just a gift, it’s a necessity and a means of survival.

As we approach the end of the year, we are committed to providing 220 children with Christmas gifts and warm winter clothing including coats, sweaters, leggings, boots, hats, scarves and gloves, but we can’t do it without your help.

• For $50.00, you can provide a Christmas gift for a child that includes a Bible storybook, toys, and chocolates.

• For $75.00, you can provide a child with a winter coat, boots, gloves, hat, scarf, and leggings to protect them from freezing temperatures.

• For $150.00, you can provide a family with a one-month supply of food, clothing, hygiene products, and medical supplies.

Thank you for being such an important part of this mission. Together, we can give these families hope, dignity, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Changing lives together,