Dear Friends of the GVCP,
To begin with, a huge “Thank You!” for the contributions of time, talent and treasure from many of your that have brought us this far. In particular, please celebrate with me our success in acquiring a superb replacement for our “Dearly Departed” pick up truck – a vehicle which served us well, in so many ways, for so many years, but finally came to a sad “beyond repair” end of life. As you may recall, thanks to the grant writing skills of one of our volunteers and the generosity of the Sisters of Loretto Community we obtained the down payment for a new vehicle earlier this year. Then, in the months that followed, donations continued to arrive so that by July we had reached the point where we were able to drive our new van off the lot – though still with $4,000 due on $12,500 sticker price.
Pictured here is what you all have made possible – ownership of our new multi purpose vehicle. One of our kids, Sophia – together with our Director, Anne, and all our students – wanted you to know how grateful we all are for this gift of love. So she sent you a love hug right through the front end of our new Nissan SERENA Van! Then, not long after that, relieved that we no longer have to rent vehicles for transporting students to school, bringing supplies to our fields and hauling crops back to town, six of our students, in the photo below, took time to check out our new van while loading it up for the upcoming trip back to their University dorms.
Of course, there is that one catch related to ownership of our new all purpose van. … we still have to finish paying for it! Our deal, in driving the van off the lot, was that we agreed to pay $1,000 a month, beginning in August, until the vehicle is paid for in full. And, this proved to be a particularly good deal for us for another reason as well. When Anne went to the dealership to pick up the Toyota NOAH van we had already put money down on, it had been sold – contrary to our agreement. As apology for not keeping their end of the bargain, the dealership offered to sell us the far more expensive – and newer – SERENA vehicle for the originally agreed upon price of the NOAH!
While we are delighted to be free of endless vehicle rental expenses, acquiring our new van had one other cost associated with it. Tuition fees, and associated expenses, for the next high school term for our 7 secondary school students – $8,000 in total – are due in full mid September. We had already set aside $7,200 raised for that purpose. However, we had to use $1,000 of those tuition funds held in reserve to meet the August payment on our van.
To make matters more financially difficult, the changing climate in Uganda has altered our crop harvesting schedule. This means that for the current harvest period our college kids will all be in school rather than on break and available to help in our fields as in times past. The bottom line? Another $1,000 of that $7,200 has had to be spent to hire local Wanyange area residents to help us with gathering in our crops and preparing the land for the next harvest .
Here are a few older photos, from back in the Covid 19 era – that you may have seen on our website – to give you a feel for the work that must be done in navigating seasons of harvesting and planting.
Photo #1) Time to gather crops that are ready to be harvested.
Photo #2) Though hidden from view here, Brian is working hard as he helps with mulching the ground in preparation for planting.
Photo #3) Now, with the harvest loaded – onto our (old and now departed) truck, our gang is heading for home. First stop is to put food in our cupboards. Then, when the harvest is sufficiently abundant, we will share with our neighbors in need.
So that’s our story for now friends. We are grateful for all you have so generously given to support our young people’s steady march toward adult independence and all you may yet offer to speed them further on that journey.
Your Tax Deductible Donation can be made via our website at this link: Summer Tuition Fund Raising Campaign.
Alternatively, donations by check – saving us a processing fee – can made out to “Global Village Children’s Project”
And sent to this address:
Global Village Children’s Project – c/o Chris Gruener
85 Floral Street
Newton Highlands, MA
02461
Thank you, as always, for your generous spirit and your kindness toward the young lives we are – together with you – helping to thrive.
Christopher,
Christopher Gruener
GVCP Board Member
[email protected]
(617) 965-6552
PS – We still have some of the lovely fans, like the one pictured here, that Anne brought with her from Uganda last year. This school term we are again offering a fan as a “Thank You!” for those able to offer a gift of $100 or more When you send your check, please do add a note saying “Yes, I would like to have one of ‘Anne’s Fans’ and here is my mailing address.” Or if you are donating on line, please send me a text or email letting me know you would like one of these fans.
Dear Friends of the GVCP,
To begin with, a huge “Thank You!” for the contributions of time, talent and treasure from many of your that have brought us this far. In particular, please celebrate with me our success in acquiring a superb replacement for our “Dearly Departed” pick up truck – a vehicle which served us well, in so many ways, for so many years, but finally came to a sad “beyond repair” end of life. As you may recall, thanks to the grant writing skills of one of our volunteers and the generosity of the Sisters of Loretto Community we obtained the down payment for a new vehicle earlier this year. Then, in the months that followed, donations continued to arrive so that by July we had reached the point where we were able to drive our new van off the lot – though still with $4,000 due on $12,500 sticker price.
Pictured here is what you all have made possible – ownership of our new multi purpose vehicle. One of our kids, Sophia – together with our Director, Anne, and all our students – wanted you to know how grateful we all are for this gift of love. So she sent you a love hug right through the front end of our new Nissan SERENA Van! Then, not long after that, relieved that we no longer have to rent vehicles for transporting students to school, bringing supplies to our fields and hauling crops back to town, six of our students, in the photo below, took time to check out our new van while loading it up for the upcoming trip back to their University dorms.
Of course, there is that one catch related to ownership of our new all purpose van. … we still have to finish paying for it! Our deal, in driving the van off the lot, was that we agreed to pay $1,000 a month, beginning in August, until the vehicle is paid for in full. And, this proved to be a particularly good deal for us for another reason as well. When Anne went to the dealership to pick up the Toyota NOAH van we had already put money down on, it had been sold – contrary to our agreement. As apology for not keeping their end of the bargain, the dealership offered to sell us the far more expensive – and newer – SERENA vehicle for the originally agreed upon price of the NOAH!
While we are delighted to be free of endless vehicle rental expenses, acquiring our new van had one other cost associated with it. Tuition fees, and associated expenses, for the next high school term for our 7 secondary school students – $8,000 in total – are due in full mid September. We had already set aside $7,200 raised for that purpose. However, we had to use $1,000 of those tuition funds held in reserve to meet the August payment on our van.
To make matters more financially difficult, the changing climate in Uganda has altered our crop harvesting schedule. This means that for the current harvest period our college kids will all be in school rather than on break and available to help in our fields as in times past. The bottom line? Another $1,000 of that $7,200 has had to be spent to hire local Wanyange area residents to help us with gathering in our crops and preparing the land for the next harvest .
Here are a few older photos, from back in the Covid 19 era – that you may have seen on our website – to give you a feel for the work that must be done in navigating seasons of harvesting and planting.
Photo #1) Time to gather crops that are ready to be harvested.
Photo #2) Though hidden from view here, Brian is working hard as he helps with mulching the ground in preparation for planting.
Photo #3) Now, with the harvest loaded – onto our (old and now departed) truck, our gang is heading for home. First stop is to put food in our cupboards. Then, when the harvest is sufficiently abundant, we will share with our neighbors in need.
So that’s our story for now friends. We are grateful for all you have so generously given to support our young people’s steady march toward adult independence and all you may yet offer to speed them further on that journey.
Your Tax Deductible Donation can be made via our website at this link: Summer Tuition Fund Raising Campaign.
Alternatively, donations by check – saving us a processing fee – can made out to “Global Village Children’s Project”
And sent to this address:
Global Village Children’s Project – c/o Chris Gruener
85 Floral Street
Newton Highlands, MA
02461
Thank you, as always, for your generous spirit and your kindness toward the young lives we are – together with you – helping to thrive.
Christopher,
Christopher Gruener
GVCP Board Member
[email protected]
(617) 965-6552
PS – We still have some of the lovely fans, like the one pictured here, that Anne brought with her from Uganda last year. This school term we are again offering a fan as a “Thank You!” for those able to offer a gift of $100 or more When you send your check, please do add a note saying “Yes, I would like to have one of ‘Anne’s Fans’ and here is my mailing address.” Or if you are donating on line, please send me a text or email letting me know you would like one of these fans.
