Bridge of Hope's main mission is to provide sponsorship to orphaned children that live:
• at home
• in an orphanage
With the generous help of donors, Bridge of Hope has now expanded into organizing Christmas Shoe-Box drives and a Summer Camp.
Christmas Shoe-Box Drive
Very dedicated volunetters do work during the year starting shortly after Christmas by purchasing Christmas paper, collecting old shoe boxes and wrapping them. Collecting and packing shoe boxes starts in September each year in order for them to reach Ukraine in time for Ukrainian St. Nicholas Day on December 19. Information about contents and how to make a shoe box is mailed out each year to parish priests in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton. Some local schools also participate in this project.
Community support is appreciated. Some supporters make financial donations to be used towards purchasing wrapping paper, gloves, socks, crayons, pencils, candies, Tshirts, etc. The boxes are sent to the Sister Servants in Ukraine to be distributed first to children in the orphanages and the remainder of the gifts are given to poor children that never have received a gift from St. Nicholas.
For any child receiving a gift at Christmas time is a joyous occasion. But for a child that never had a gift ever before: this is a gift from heaven. The children thank St. Nicholas for their gifts and promise to pray all year for those involved with the shoe boxes. Each year thank-you letters are written to St. Nicholas thanking him for the shoe box and praying to him to not forget them next year.
Summer Camp
Summer camps are very popular with the children in Ukraine. Through a generous donor the children were able to experience for the first time a Summer Camp, which was organized by the Sister Servants for poor and orphaned children.
The camp was held in Yaremche, a little town in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains. For the 36 children attending the camp, this was a dream come true. None of them had traveled any further than their village. The day would start with a Liturgy and catechism. Other actiities included tours of Dowbush Rock, a trip to Vorokhta, evening bon-fires and a treat of ice cream.
The children came from all 10 Bridge of Hope centres in Ukraine. All those attending received a small album of pictures as a souvenir. Each child took home many lasting memories.
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