Raising Funds for Supplies

We are soliciting your support for a fund-raising activity of our non-profit, charity PROLASA Canada. We have collected a large quantity of books, school supplies, crocs and shoes, medical equipment and supplies which we need to send to Africa. We are hoping to be able to send a 40 foot container, filled with the supplies and equipment that we have collected, but the cost is between $15,000 and $18,000.

In order to raise the needed money we are asking interested people to skip one meal on Sunday, November 22 and to ask their neighbours, friends, family, colleagues and classmates to sponsor them by making a donation to PROLASA. Receipts for income tax purposes will be issued by our PROLASA ofiice in Canada and ICC office in the USA for any donation $10 or larger. Would you be willing to help us and be a participant?

If you want to participate here are the PDF forms you will need for more information.

1. Information
2. Sponsor page
   

NB Power Employees Light Up the Lives of Children in Congo

The employees of NB Power have come to the rescue of the children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over the past few months, the employees of NB Power collected 250 pair of crocs for the children in Congo. Spearheaded by Roland Bowmaster and the Grand Falls office, the support spread throughout the province and soon boxes of crocs started coming in. Thanks to all of you who contributed and thanks to Roland for getting this started. Your help will make a big difference in the lives of many children in Congo!

Crocs Collected by the employees of NB Power

The Employees of NB Power collected 250 pair of Crocs for the Children of Congo

Thank-you to all who helped out -- Merci à tout le monde qui a contibué!

New Fighting in the Congo

More rebel fighting has erupted in the Congo (DRC) since August 2008. This is catastrophic to the region and has displaced more and more people. Refugee camps are struggling with the challenge of housing at least 250,000 people.

There are many news reports of the orphaned children being left by this fighting which is just heartbreaking. The orphans currently being cared for in the orphanage on the island of Idgwi are safe from the fighting and that is why the orphanage was built on the island. The island is far enough from the mainland and has never experienced the rebel fighting. But the need for homes for the newly orphaned is always an evolving need. The orphanage is always in need of help and donations to keep the current children fed, healthy and provide them with medical care and education. The new strains of trying to take in any new orphans will also depend on donations and funds to support them and provide shelter for them. If you would like to know more about how to donate to the orphanage for their current orphans and to help with future orphans then please go to their website and donate if you can. Their organization is called International Children's Care and if you can help I am sure it will be greatly appreciated. If you would like to read more about the orphan village and its projects here is a link directly to that.

****Due to all this new rebel unrest the plans for visiting the Congo to deliver the Crocs has been postponed until early 2009 as soon as the rebel fighting subsides enough to allow for a safe trip to the orphanage. The team has to travel through the war torn area to get to the Island.

Crocs for Orphan Tots Charity Event Birthday!

I received a message on facebook from a Mary Jo and here is what it said:

"Just wanted to touch base with you and thank you for your efforts to bring crocs to orphan tots.

My daughter and her friend, 13 and 14 years old, are having a combined birthday party this Friday evening and have selected Crocs for Orphan Tots as their charity recipient.

We are having 24 girls who are bringing crocs instead of presents. I hope we get a good supply for your group."

I thought it was such a unique idea and such great a way to allow these children attending the party to get involved in projects that make them connect to our global community in a very personal way.

I have since gotten an update:

"The girls had their party Friday night. It was quite fun, and they all brought crocs -- we have 55 pairs to donate! We have new, gently used, large, small, a little bit of everything."

I would love to share more Croc collection stories. So if you don't mind sharing yours, please contact me. I would love to share it with others that are helping out.

Pictures of your kids playing in their Crocs!

DeLuca in her first pair of Crocs! How cute are they?

I would love to see and post pictures of you or your children wearing their Crocs this summer. If you have pictures in your Crocs and don't mind sharing them just email me the picture and I would love to share it on this blog. No names will be included unless you would like them to be. You can email me at twizzledesigns [at] msn.com and I will share them.

Have a great summer!

Attention all Parents!

Summer has arrived and the heat is on. I know many of you have children wearing Crocs this summer. At the end of summer when those Crocs have had a lot of use remeber that they can then be donated to our project and they can bring year round use to a child in need in the Congo, Africa. So keep us in mind and at the end of summer please drop them off or send them to this project and they will go directly to a child in need of shoe in the Congo. For drop off locations please see this link and if there are no drop off locations near you and you would like to be a drop off location just leave a comment on this posting or comment on the facebook group wall. Remember that if you cannot afford to help with the shipping of the crocs just contact us and we will help with shipping.

Tobique Valley Exceeds All Expectations!!

The students and faculty of Tobique Valley Middle School and High School have exceeded all expectations in their contribution for the Crocs for Orphan Tots Project. Spearheaded by two teachers Tara Legace and Karen Elliott, the 300 students have collected 411 pair of crocs in the past four weeks!!!

Tobique Valley Middle & High School Gym



A Rainbow of Crocs

After Mrs. Legace became aware of the Crocs For Orphan Tots Project she unleashed her imagination and her creativity and with great enthusiasm she told her students about the project. Karen Elliott, who teaches at the High School did the same and over a period of four weeks the students of TVMHS collected crocs with enthusiasm. And what a collection they made!!

Crocs Line The Bleachers in the Gym

Interest in their Congolese counterparts grew as the project gathered momentum. Dr. Wecker, Daniel and Melissa were invited to the school and the students had a plethora of questions about life in Congo and about the needs for shoes. Today, all the students of both the High School and the Middle School gathered in the gym as the Crocs that they had collected were presented to PROLASA Canada. They will be taken to Congo in December.

The students then loaded them all into two large boxes and one of their teachers helped transport them to the Tobique Valley Medical Centre where they will be stored until they are taken to Congo.

Students Loading Crocs into Boxes

Unloading the Truck

PROLASA Canada and Crocs For Orphan Tots want to sincerely thank everyone at Tobique Valley Middle and High School who was involved with the project. You exceeded all expectations! We will take these shoes to the Island of Idjwi in the Democratic Republic of Congo and we will distribute them to the children at the Patmos Children's Village and to students at some of the surrounding schools. We want you to know that you have made a HUGE difference in the live of many children. Thanks.