Sponsorship

The Orphan and Family Sponsorship Program of Hand of Help offers churches and individuals the opportunity to help change the world, one child or one family at a time. With the help of ministry volunteers, potential sponsors are connected with orphans at the Hand of Help Orphanage in Botosani, Romania.

How was the Orphan and Family Sponsorship Program started?
How do I join the program?
How much does it cost to sign up?
How does the child or family benefit from the money that I provide?
What is the sponsorship schedule?  How do I contribute?
What happens if a parent or relative removes the child that I am sponsoring?
Will I receive receipts for my monthly support?
Will I receive information about a specific child or family?
Can I write to my sponsored child?
Can I send gifts to my child or family?
What happens to my child or family if I am unable to send the monthly support?
Can a group, church, or organization jointly sponsor a child or family?

• How was the Orphan and Family Sponsorship Program started? The Orphan and Family Sponsorship Program is an outreach project of Hand of Help.  Throughout the Communist years, the Duduman and Boldea families were actively sharing the Word of God by smuggling Bibles into Romania and by their personal testimony.  For these crimes, they were expelled from Romania in 1984 and came to the United States for refuge.  Their labors continued as they shipped boxes of relief supples to pastors and impoverished brethren back home.   Finally in 1989, the Communist Government was overthrown and freedom came to Romania.  Since that time Hand of Help has shipped many containers filled with medical supplies, food, clothing, and other items which are so desperately needed.   These shipments are delivered door-to-door throughout Romania to needy families, pastors, and elderly Christians who are all alone and destitute.  Before his death Dumitru Duduman began construction on an orphanage in Botosani, Romania.  This seemed like an impossible undertaking, but God provided the finances to complete the task.   Brother Dumitru lived to see his orphanage open, but only for a short while.   As the first children were received in, Brother Dumitru went to be with the Lord.   The work was passed on to his daughter, Virginia Boldea.  Together with her husband, Mike Sr. and her son Mike Jr. she has managed to keep the orphanage going and fight her way through regulations and governmental ordinances to running a privately owned Christ-centered orphanage in a country that was under Communist rule for 50 years.   The situation has become more and more difficult within Romania with higher unemployement and higher inflation.  The container loads of food and winter clothing that arrive are received by the needy brethren as God's answer to their prayer.  The orphanage also is completely dependent upon help from brethren back in the U.S.  Food and other necessities are shipped as they are received at our office, but many thousands of dollars are still needed to finance the day-to-day operation of the orphanage in Botosani.

• How do I join the program?  Go to the Sponsor Today page and fill out the sponsorship form. We will contact you to discuss your choice of children or families that are in need of sponsors.

• How much does it cost to sign up?  The average monthly sponsorship amount is approximately $25.00 per month. The average cost however needed to raise a child per month is $500.00. This covers food, clothing, education, orphanage operations, teacher’s salary, Doctor’s salary, and general employee’s needed to care for the orphans. Each sponsor has the option of deciding the amount in which they desire to support their child or family. We would like to generate enough sponsors to meet this financial need. In whatever amount you chose to benefit your sponsored child, know that each child will be cared for with the same loving care regardless. Thank you for your heart in helping the plight of the Romanian orphans and poor families.

• How does the child or family benefit from the money that I provide?  Your support helps the child with adequate food, clothing, basic medical care, and housing.  In cases of school age children, your support may also help to pay fees, school supplies, and books.

• What is the sponsorship schedule?  How do I contribute?   Payment begins on the month that sponsorship begins.  Sponsors are requested to contribute monthly at first. This gives the sponsor time to decide if they wish to continue sponsoring on a long term basis.  Checks or money orders should be made out to "Hand of Help Sponsorship Program".  The child's or family's name should be written in the "purpose" space.  All checks and money orders should be mailed to our Garland Texas office each month.

• What happens if a parent or relative removes the child that I am sponsoring?  A small percentage of the children will eventually be reunited with a parent or family member.  In such cases the need for sponsorship is increased, not lessened.  You will be given the opportunity to continue your sponsorship of the child and his or her family, or you may select another child from those who do not have sponsors.

• Will I receive receipts for my monthly support?  Yes, each time you send a payment we will mail you an acknowledgement.  You will also receive a tax-deductible receipt for your tax records at the end of each year.

• Will I receive information about a specific child or family?   Yes, you will receive a photograph and background information about your child.

• Can I write to my sponsored child?  Yes. Our ministry co-workers will translate your letter.  Your child will also be able to write letters to you.  Our ministry co-workers are responsible for developing pictures which will be sent to you along with the letter.

• Can I send gifts to my child or family?  We would like to limit our gift giving to twice per year, on our winter shipment and at birthdays.   We will notify all sponsors of each shipment date so that packages may be sent to our Watertown office.  These gifts should be limited to a few clothes items, a winter coat, gloves, shoes, a toy or two, school supplies, and other small gifts.  We advise against sponsors sending gifts to the orphanage as this can cause a great deal of jealousy among children.  Since all sponsors can not send gifts of equal value, the children are less likely to be hurt.

• What happens to my child or family if I am unable to send the monthly support?  None of the children at the Hand of Help Orphanage will be refused services when a sponsor stops sending support.  Basic services will continue to be provided for the child while we search for another sponsor.  Families that lose sponsors will be assisited through our general fund until a new sponsor can be found.

• Can a group, church, or organization jointly sponsor a child or family?  Yes, we encourage joint sponsorships.  This method is less personal for the sponsor but the needs of the child or family are still met. Children that are placed at the orphanage on a short term basis will also need a sponsor during their stay of four to six months.

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