Families for Children (FFC) is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian agency operating homes that care for hundreds of destitute children and women in India and Bangladesh. FFC was founded in 1971 by Sandra Simpson, of Montreal, Canada, when she became aware of the plight of children in Vietnam. There, she facilitated many adoptions of mixed race and handicapped kids to the USA and Canada, and helped raise funds and supplies for homes run by Rosemary Taylor in Saigon. Today, Sandra still supervises all the organization's activities, and runs the sponsorship program. Her work for children has received official recognition in recent years by the award of the Ontario Medal, and the Order of Canada.

SOPHIE'S FUND-RAISING
When she was 8 years old, Sophie Nakashima took a jewelry making class at school. She was fortunate to have an excellent teacher who gave the children challenging projects with glass and stone beads. After receiving many compliments on the items she made, she decided she could sell her jewelry and donate the money to Families for Children, as she and her family were supporters of FFC.

Sophie is now 12 and for the past 3 years, her family has hosted an "FFC Open House and Fund Raiser" in December, for friends and family. Every year, friends gather to catch up and also do some holiday shopping. The whole family enjoys this annual event. Hosting this event, seeing friends come together for a great cause, and making a difference is what makes the holidays special for us. Sophie makes necklaces, bracelets, earrings, bookmarks and key rings, so there is something for everyone. Supply costs are kept low so that 100% of the proceeds are donated. In addition, each year there is something new....this past year, Sophie learned to make sock monkeys and had four of them ready for the open house....she took orders, and ended up making 25 monkeys! The 2009 event raised over $2000.

One of the side benefits that has come out of Sophie's efforts is that she has inspired other children to make a difference. For the past three years, the Posluns campus of the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto has been operating a program known as the Mitzvah Corps. The program involves students from grade two to grade five, and allows them to volunteer and contribute to a series of community projects and organizations. Sophie was invited as a guest at the Mitzvah Corps, where she told the students about FFC, her fund raising work, and then taught the students to make some jewelry items which she has included in her annual sale. Among other things, the Mitzvah Corps students worked on creating bookmarks which could be sold to raise money for FFC. In the words of one student who was happy to participate and help FFC, "It was so much fun I wish I could help again!"

This year, Sophie was invited to make jewelry for her school's Me to We clubs fund raising. She raised over $200 in key ring sales for Mother's Day, part of which will be donated to the club's African well project with the rest going to FFC. It is a wonderful way to inspire other children and also get the word out on the work of FFC.

CHRISTMAS SALES
Tove Kilburn held her first "Home Sale" at her new house in Qualicum, BC, on November 29, 2009. Her neighbours and friends all helped her to set it up and everything looked beautiful. It was a huge success and next year Tove hopes to have the sale on both Saturday and Sunday if she has enough crafts. The photo at right shows some of the crafts that were on sale.

Liz Jarvos held her amazing home sale of crafts on November 8, and had a second sale later in November in Victoria.

Audrey Timmerman's annual Dinnerless Dinner was held in the fall, and was the biggest success yet. Bravo to Audrey, and thanks to all her friends and family who donated.

Please note that FFC always needs handmade craft items for sale at all our fundraising events. You can contact Sandra at sandraffc@videotron.ca or write to her at 111 Roseheath Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4C 3P6 to discuss any crafts you might be able to donate. Also, if anyone thinks they might be able to help with fundraising by holding a craft sale, they should also get in touch with Sandra.

The five ladies shown at right all bought Medleri Silk jackets, made at the FFC Co-op in India, from the Sarah Pennington stall at the Galiano market. Calling themselves the Jack-ettes, they then launched into an impromptu version of the song and dance routine Stop In The Name Of Love.

MARKET SALES
Sarah Pennington and Kelly Murphy, two of FFC's fund-raisers, are shown at left. Sarah rents a table at the Galiano Island market in B.C., which is held every Saturday from 10am to 2pm, from June until the Labour day weekend. She sells FFC products along with other crafts bought in India or donated. Kelly has a sale in the Wolfeville Farmers Market in Wolfeville, N.S., and a sale in the Kentville Market, about once per season, at which people can buy FFC co-op products.. Her next sale is expected to be in early December in Wolfeville at the Acadia Student Union building.

Barb Gosney, another FFC co-op salesperson, is shown at left at the market in Nelson BC. Barb has been selling Crazy Quilt and Hand-Painted bags from the FFC co-ops at the Cottonwood Falls market, held on Saturdays, and at the Wednesday market at the leisure center car park