River of Hearts - 2008 review

 

Click "Read more" to read about our recap of the 2008 year... 

FEBRUARY
The first Sorting Party of 2008
On February 23th at Concordia International School about 180 volunteers helped to sort clothing and pack 300 boxes, which were sent to Fugong in Yunan.

Change of coordinators
As Rudy Conley and Betty Swarzthout prepared to return to their home countries, new coordinators undertook the administration of ROH.   The new coordinators are Daniel & Marguerite Sdrigotti and Mark Bourne, and they have enlisted the help of a bigger team to assist them with their new commitments. Rudy and Betty helped them organise their first Sorting Party on May31st.

MAY
May 31st Sorting Party
In response to the Sichuan earthquake appeal, 300 volunteers showed up at Yew Chung Gubei HS school campus to box 517 boxes.   Mark entertained all the young people after lunch with his photos taking. Lunch was provided by Party On, Swiggles and coffee and desserts by Starbucks.   An appreciation party, complete with singing and keepsake gifts was held for Rudy, Lydia and Betty.   A designated apron with their name and a fan with a poem were given as a token of gratitude.

NOVEMBER
Sorting Party on November 8th
Thanks to the 250 volunteers who generously shared their time and lent a hand to ROH to sort more than 600 boxes of clothing, bedding, shoes and toys.   Concordia International School in Pudong hosted the event and Café du Monde provided yummy sandwiches boxes.   Our faithful local transporter, Santa Fe Trucking Company continues to partake and share their professional staff to go to the pick up locations and prepare the boxes for the Saturday.   This time, International Channel Shanghai TV channel joined the fun and filmed the event. They were especially interested to tell the story of Marguerite, and followed her throughout the day.   As the day went by, volunteers became tired and after2pm the work became slower and we had a big mess, but thanks to a few who kept on going and the ayis who came to the rescue, by 4pm the whole place was neat again.   We sent 20 CBM to the XINXIN Street Kids Association in Xian and the rest was sent to LiuAn, Anhui Province.

Distribution in Anhui Province:
On November 28th, ROH joined the Artificial Limb Project.   A team of 4 adults and 2 teenagers were able to distribute around 40 boxes of clothing shoes, toys and bedding.   This event was hosted by the Mute & Deaf School in Liu Ann, Anhui.   The Handicapped Association was overwhelmed with the quality of goods and decided to keep the remaining 150 boxes to help some other underprivileged groups of Handicapped who were not present that day.   These 150 boxes were sent to an orphanage and a senior citizen home in nearby counties.
 
Distribution at the Renewal centre:
Prior to that, a small team visited the Renewal Centre on November 9th and distributed blankets and much needed jackets to migrant workers working around the Shanghai train station.   Twice a week the centre provides a place where low-income workers can take showers, wash their laundry, as well as eat a meal and create a social network.   The Renewal Centre is becoming one of the first recipients of ROH items in Shanghai. 

Bazaar at Concordia
Saturday, November 22nd: ROH used this opportunity to promote their goals and set up a table alongside other organisations to raise funds for needed logistics.

DECEMBER
Shanghai Quest Interview on ICS December 5th
ICS TV spent a couple of weeks filming a documentary about River of Hearts in Shanghai.   The channel is particularly interested in offering a platform to organisations or individuals helping to make Shanghai and China a better place.   Marguerite was able to represent ROH and share her past experiences with charity work and her passion for the underprivileged.   Quite a few people responded to the call and will join ROH as enthusiastic volunteers for2009.
 

OUR PROJECTS FOR 2009

ROH will continue its mission and participate in events in Shanghai as well as provinces in greater China.   To begin the year, we are planning to have a big sale to help support the shipping costs of River of Hearts in mid-February.

The next Sorting Party will be held at Yew Chung International School in Gubei, Puxi on Saturday, February 28th.   We welcome any volunteers who like to sort, make, pack and carry boxes of clothes, shoes, bags and toys. It will start at 9:00am and should finish by 4pm at the latest.   We like volunteers to stay at least 2 hours if they like to eat lunch either before or after they eat. (how about: volunteers who help for at least 2 hours, either morning or afternoon, will be provided with light refreshments over the lunchtime period)

There will be two more Sorting Parties, one at the end of May/beginning of June at Yew Chung International School Regency in Pudong.   The other will be held at SCIS in Puxi at the beginning of November2009.   We are also planning to join bazaars alongside diverse charities around the city.