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Archive - Article 41
Feed The Children And Operation Compassion Partners For
First American Dream Center
5/17/02
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Tim Burdashaw,
Communications and Development Director for Operation Compassion,
stands in front of water delivered by Feed the Children. |
During the week of April 30th through May 4th, 2002, Feed the Children
and Operation Compassion partnered to provide food, water, chips,
candy and other snack food for a special week entitled Celebration
of the Nations. This weeklong event involved seven different, simultaneous
activities culminating with the dedication of the First American
Dream Center in Gallup, NM.
For several weeks prior to the celebration, Feed the Children sent
semis of water, food, chips and other snack items to be given to
the children and adults that would participate in the various activities.
Those activities included a revival with Reverend Floyd Lawhon,
Kid’s Kamp with Jimmy Jones, daily hot meal program, Saturday’s
carnival and the dedication.
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Jimmy Jones
giving a little boy all the water he wants. |
On Thursday during the week of celebration, a Feed the Children
semi unloaded a semi of food boxes to be given away following the
dedication to families in need. Over 1,200 families received fifty-pound
food boxes to take home.
Out of this partnership came two significant and life changing
experiences. One of the families that lived in a remote area of
the reservation was completely out of food and money. They had no
means of buying and anything and prospect of receiving anything
from outside sources. All that was in the house was a little flour.
For five days, this family of eight – mother, father and six
children ate nothing but gravy! That was all they had to eat –
gravy! When a pick up truck delivered their box of food, they were
overwhelmed. It was a miracle. The mother said it was enough food
to last them a month!
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Families
lining up to receive 50 food boxes. |
Each night during the Kid’s Kamp, the workers would give
each child a bag of toys, snacks and other goodies as well as a
bottle of water. One night, a little boy had abandoned his bag of
goodies for and arm full of water. When the child was ask to only
take one water and take his bag, he replied, “I’d rather
have water!” After further inquiry, it was discovered the
little boy’s family was without water and he needed to take
water back home to his family. The water was more important than
the toys and candy. Needless to say, the little boy returned home
with a couple of cases of water and his toys and snacks for the
whole family.
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Workers loading
food boxes in pickup truck for a family. |
It is amazing to think about children in the United States having
to make a choice between life sustaining water or toys and candy.
However, because of this unparalleled partnership many needs within
the Navajo Nation will be supplied in the coming years as Operation
Compassion operates the First American Dream Center and Feed the
Children continues to send semi loads of water, food and other supplies.
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Feed the
Children semi backing into dock of FADC for delivery. |
Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator
Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing
a corporate lead may contact:
Operation Compassion
David Lorency,President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 - Office
423.596.4200 - Fax
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