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International ’ Special thanks to everyone who has contributed to the ACWW Area project “Home Based Care for Tsunami affected Dalit Children in Napapattinam (India)", sponsored bytheSocietyofDaughters ofMaryImmaculate (DMI). The contributions to date total approximately 559255.71, well over the committed amount of $7000.00. This is a fantastic undertaking by Area members and you should be very proud for reaching out to help "provide a ray of hope” for these children. Your financial support will help to make each child become a better person. At the Area Conference in September 2008, a decision was made that any monies collected over and above the committed amount of $7000.00 would be forwarded to the DMI to further assist the children at the orphanage. You may continue to forward donations toward the project to me until March 1, 2010 at 10 Barbour Drive, Mount Pearl, NL, AiN 2H8. Please remember to make your payment payable to ACWW Canada Area and indicate that it is for the Area project. ~ Margaret Yetman, ACWW Canada Area President Algoma Centre District Ingrid Schmidt of the North Tarentorus Branch in Algoma Centre District has been busy! She’s been making teddy bears and bags for Canada Comforts! Other Branch Members have also been making bears, clothes and baby toques for newborns. All of the items have been sent to Canada Comforts through Joyce Nelson by Manitoulin Transport. Children in Haiti love the bears that are sent by Canada Comforts. Be sure to use polyfil when sending bears as it discourages bugs. if you don‘t have polyfil, send the bears unstuffed and they will be stuffed by Canada Comforts. The kids enjoy receiving these cuddly bears! féfiet N EWS We recently received an update from Canada Comforts â€" there is lots of great things happening! Organizers have asked that if you are sending a parcel, please include an information sheet inside the parcel including a contact name, telephone number, a working email address and the name of your WI Branch. Some Members have not been receiving responses and it is because Canada Comforts volunteers have not known who to contact to let them know the shipment was received. What's new? Skirts for older girls have been requested (sizes Bto 16). Girls wear their skirts long, well below the knee. Any pattern will do. Sunglasses are now being collected for children to help protect their eyes from harmful UV rays. The Canada Comfort core group puts a pair of panties in the pocket of each dress that is made. Purchasing the panties is expensive so they are asking for new or gently used pairs â€" especially sizes 2, 4, and 6. Due to the cost involved, they may have to stop this practise, but they are hoping they will be able to collect some donations so they don't have to. In shipment news â€" at the last minute, the MadagascarGovernmentwouldn’t allow containers intothe country. Monetarydonations reached them. but the container was sent to Zambia where a badly needed sewing school was started. Both shipments arrived safely in Zambia. In Liberia, supplies went to a Children's Centre where gardening, education and survival skills were taught and kids were fed. Two containers have been sent to the Phillipines in response to an 505 caused by storms and two containers have also been sent to Haiti this year. We are waiting on paperwork to be cleared so items can be sent to Congo.