Ten years ago today, on October 23, 2003, Love & Hope Children’s home opened its doors to our first four children. We started with very little: a bunk bed, a crib, a stove, a pick-up truck, and a guard. We didn’t have much, but we had a vision: To offer holistic care to Salvadoran children who had been abandoned, neglected or abused, and to show them their worth in the eyes of their Creator. By the end of that first year – in just two short months – we had welcomed 17 more children.
The last ten years have brought a total of 37 children through the doors of Love & Hope. We’ve been able to provide private education, medical care, psychological support, and spiritual guidance. Four children have received physical, speech, art, occupation and water therapy. Five children have been adopted into loving families. Other children have discovered long-lost family members or been reunited with their biological families. It’s been an incredible ride – full of ups and downs, laughter and tears.
We’ve done it all through the support of thousands of donors, sponsors, volunteers, teams and board members – American and Salvadoran alike – that have generously supported our ministry in El Salvador. We can’t begin to describe how blessed we feel professionally as an organization, and personally as friends, to have all of you supporting us. The last 10 years wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of our board members, staff, volunteers, and donors all around the world that believe in us. You share in the change we’ve made in the lives of the children, their families, and the country of El Salvador.
We’re looking forward to the next 10 years: high school, college, and first jobs. In order to continue to physically, spiritually, educationally and emotionally care for our children through young adulthood, we’ll need your continued support.
Today, we’re launching our 10 Years, 10 Friends, 10 Dollars fundraiser. The idea is simple: We’re asking you to share the Love & Hope story with ten of your friends, family members, or co-workers and ask them to help you raise $100 for Love & Hope by contributing just $10. But it doesn’t stop there. If each of them asks 10 friends, the impact will be enormous.
It’s easy to get started. Just visit our website and sign up to start inviting friends.
ten.loveandhopechildrenshome.com
And stay tuned to our blog. We’ll be sharing stories and posting pictures from the past 10 years at Love & Hope all throughout the week!