Pedraviva Summer Appeal

6th July 2009

Dear Friends,

We felt it was the right time to ask some of our project leaders in Brazil if they had any special needs at this time. We were aware that the credit crunch so much talked about here in the UK, was affecting people all over the world, and here is the most needy of the replies we received. Sonia and her husband Samuel provide over 70 breakfast meals for very young children from the local favelas (shanty town), before they go to school. For many of the children this would be their first, and often only meal of the day, and Sonia wants to do so much more for these precious children, as she writes:

“Dear Pedraviva,

I am writing to share about the needs of our project (Refugio & Vida) We care for about 70 children. We offer them breakfast every day and help with food parcels for the most needy families, clothes and shoes.

Here are some of our needs:

· We need to buy 50 pairs of shoes (flip-flops) for the children age 2 to 16 years old. They usually get them at Christmas, but last year they didn't get them. 

· We also need to buy 16 school uniforms (tops). Each costs R$15,00 (£5), so we need R$240,00 (£80). Here are the children who need the uniforms: Kelly, Raiane, Mirian, Ian, Fabiana, Suelen, Marlon, Maicon, Maike, Raiane, Cristiana, Higor, Eduarda, Jonas, Natalia & Vanessa.

· We would like to provide more families with food parcels. There are around 30 families in need. We receive monthly donations to buy 6 foods parcels, but we still need to get an extra 24 food parcels. Each food parcel costs around R$49,00 (£16), so we need R$1,176,00 (£392) per month to be able to help these families.  

· We need to buy a new industrial cooker. The one we are using is not working properly and it was bought 5 years ago, second hand. A 4-burner cooker without oven costs R$900,00 (£300) and a 
4-burner cooker with oven costs R$ 1.500,00. (£500)

· We would also like to help 3 girls who take part in the project and who are orphans. They live with their auntie who herself has 6 children. Her husband is a drug addict and doesn't provide for his family. The girls suffer a lot and are very needy. The oldest, Amanda, is 11, Karine is 8 and Aline is 6 years old.

· We haven't given up the idea of starting a small business to  self fund the  project. We are considering making soap, washing up liquid, etc to sell. However, we still need to finish the room/area where the project will function. It still doesn't have a roof. We also need to buy the equipments.

We thank you for all your support and love for the children in Brazil. May God bless you.”

 Pastor Sonia Lucas, Project Refugio & Vida