A Bag of Hope

Dear Friends,

I call on all of you who would always shower me with thoughtful and generous gifts-- all of you who would happily support my every endeavour and grant my wishes. My birthday is coming in 2 weeks. Every year you would ask me what I want for my birthday and you give without blinking. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate all you have given me but I don't need any more material things. I have everything I could ever ask for-- I have a wonderful family; I am surrounded by an army of amazing friends and loved ones-- YOU are more than enough gift to last a lifetime.

Yes, this year, I have a few on my birthday wish list: I want to fill empty stomachs; give soles to bare feet; quench thirst for knowledge. These are but simple wishes of 100 resilient children in the impoverished community of Barangay Calajunan, So-oc, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Philippines. They just want to eat yum burger and chicken joy from Jollibee, a Filipino equivalent of McDonald's [Jollibee is every kid's apple-of-the-eye in the Philippines--my Pinoy friends, you totally get this]. A pair of slippers; a few pencils, pens and notebooks are a luxury to any child who has nothing.

Please help me grant these children's wishes--help me give a bag of hope to every child. No amount of money is too little when given wholeheartedly. THANK YOU for your time, your love and your support.

Love,

Mench