Winter coat delivery keeps 300 children warm

February 22nd, 2010

Staying warm in the winter months came as a gift to many Iraqi orphans recently. SICF’s “Winter Project” meant the purchase and distribution of winter coats for more than 300 needy boys and girls.

 

SICF earmarked $2,400 raised at a recent fundraiser to buy the coats for the orphans during the cool winter months of the desert region. SICF then partnered with six non-governmental organizations in Iraq to distribute the clothing.

 

People think of Iraq as hot and sandy. But they are surprised to hear that temperatures drop significantly during the short winter season, particularly in the evenings. Something as simple as a warm jacket can make all the difference,” said SICF president Maxwell Quqa. “This project is just one of the ways in which we can show these children love and compassion.”

 

The majority of the funds dedicated to this project were raised at a fundraiser hosted by the generous owner of Burke Cigar.

Help comes for destitute orphans living in Baghdad ‘city dump’

February 22nd, 2010

Orphans living in what is virtually a city dump east of Baghdad, Iraq, are now receiving financial support from SICF, thanks to a $500 a month donation by an anonymous U.S. donor.

The project aids 10 orphans and their widowed mothers and relatives who came to SICF’s attention as it investigated the plight of orphans and in that war-torn country and sought solutions to the crisis. The orphans live in an area of destroyed buildings in make-shift “houses” of partial concrete blocks covered by rusted sheets of metal or wooden planks. Among the orphans are a young girl, Fatma, and her brother who lost both of their parents to bombings. They live with a handicapped uncle and their grandmother, the breadwinner.

SICF has provided monthly support of food, clothing, and other basic necessities. SICF also purchased a sewing machine for one widowed mother so that she could start a small sewing business to provide income for her and her children. SICF’s goal over time is to help these families find sustainable sources of income so they are no longer dependent on assistance.