Would You Like To Help?

[Sunny Cervantes]

Last month, I did some spring cleaning and donated some of our old books to a public school near my house. My favorite activity to show clients' sense of social responsibility is always holding a book drive.

I was wondering if any of you might like to give away old books to the children in this public school. The school is called Bucal Elementary School and it's about 5 minutes away from my house. Poor kids have obsolete books. Most are useless junk that corporations give to them. Those "books" with more corporate logos and blabber than useful information for the kids.

My neighbors and I are going to donate again this Christmas. I figured books are a nice Christmas gift to these children. So, if you want to join us, just tell me.

Maybe, one of you might even like to sponsor a child to school. The annual tuition fee is only between US$8-10. There are so many kids in my neighborhood who don't go to school because their parents don't have that amount to pay for their education. It's sad because these are smart kids who should be in school instead of selling sampaguita leis to augment their parents' incomes.

My driver, Lando, has 4 kids and it's a struggle for him to send his kids to school. I can only afford to send one of them. Maybe, a kind soul might want to help with the other 3 kids? Last year, his father died and Lando was forced to go to a loan shark to pay for the funeral expenses. I did my little bit to help out but, still, it depleted whatever meager amount he had and, now, his 3 kids can barely go to school.

My favorite orchid vendor, Mang Boyet, lost his wife last year to cancer. He has 5 kids, 3 of them already quit school. His only means of income are selling orchids. Some of my friends buy from him but it's not enough. I feel sad that his 3 older children had to quit school. Mang Boyet is such a joyful person despite all the difficulties he encountered in life. I'd like to be able to help him in my own small way. Is anyone interested in shelling out $10 a year for one of his kids to continue their studies? Just one, not all 3. Maybe, you can throw in a little extra for books, uniform and some allowance? Please?

We all have our problems yet we still have so much compared to them. Couldn't we share just a teeny, tiny portion of what we have to them?

If anyone is interested, I can help set up communication between you and them. That way, you can deal directly with them instead of me. Not that I don't want to help out with facilitating all of these but, at least, the money goes directly to them and doesn't pass my hands anymore. I have very grabby and greedy hands. LOL!

Seriously, though, an education would be the best Christmas present these children can ever receive.

[Dr. Marlena Corcoran]

Sunny, how can we get money to you in a reasonable way? Bank transfer fees cost almost as much as sending every one of these kids to school!

[Sunny Cervantes]

REALLY? You want to help one of them? Thank you, thank you so much.