Giving Back

“What can we do to give back to our children’s first home?” It seems this is a common question for lots of adoptive parents. This question came up in my Yangjiang SWI Yahoo group earlier this year, and we decided to pool our resources together to make a donation. Our group requested that the LWB Special Projects team ask the Yangjiang orphanage director about the needs of the children there. “Clothing!!” was the quick response.

Happy children in Yangjiang!

Our group collected donations through the LWB Orphanage Assistance Program, and, in less than two months, the YJ group raised $1,854 – enough to purchase 120 bags of cloth diapers (that’s 1,200 diapers!!) and 510 sets of summer clothing. We were SO happy that we were able to donate this much for the kids and loved the pictures that were sent to us from the orphanage staff.

Look at all the cloth diapers!

The LWB Orphanage Assistance program is a really neat program that allows families and groups to work with orphanages to meet their needs. All purchases are made in China by an LWB employee to stretch funds as far as possible. Some of the projects that other orphanage groups are undertaking include clothing, cloth diapers, cribs and beds, medical equipment, toys, indoor and outdoor play equipment, winter coats, quilts, shoes, incubators, and more.

Donations are also always welcome (and needed!) by LWB’s Orphanage Assistance General Fund. This general fund allows help to be provided to orphanages that may not have completed a lot of international adoptions and have as much parent support. This fund is also used to help with emergency needs.

Learn more about LWB’s Orphanage Assistance Program here: http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/projects_orphange_assistance.cfm

Debbie Smith
Tuan Yuan Adoption Assistance Coordinator

Love Can Make a Miracle

"Love Can Make a Miracle."

These were the words written by our China Foster Care Director in a recent report to LWB. She was talking about the wonderful foster families in Yunnan. Orphanage Assistance was able to help these families this winter by providing quilts and warm clothing for the children. They were so thankful for the assistance because they do not have much—and yet they give to others. These families scraped together what they could to help those affected by the earthquake.

As the Foster Care Manager said, "The picture shows that as long as we get together, we can overcome any difficulties."

Perfect Timing

The following photos are from an orphanage located in Gansu Province, just north of Sichuan. The building, like so many others, was damaged by an aftershock. All 80 children have been living outside in tents to keep safe. Unfortunately, the weather has been damp and chilly.

Love Without Boundaries was able to contact the director and found out they were in need of warm clothing and diapers. In perfect timing, we had just finished a clothing fundraiser for this SWI, through our Orphanage Assistance program! Due to the generosity of the SWI adoptive parent group, we were able to send a large shipment of clothing and diapers just when they were needed most.

Don’t the babies look snug in their new clothes?

The little one on the right gets my 'cutie-pie of the year' nomination!

This little one is counting how many layers her friend is wearing:

It looks like some of the children are enjoying several sets of clothing.... :o)






It appears the sun has at last come out. How wonderful it is to see the children warm and dry, enjoying the day in their walkers.

I love how the babies clap and wave, unaware of the tragedy nearby.


One of these little guys will join his forever family in just a few weeks. His anxious mama was relieved to see pictures of him safe and sound!

We are thankful for all the loving Ayis in the earthquake area who are working so hard to keep the children fed, warm, and safe, despite their difficult circumstances.

Laura Baldwin

Orphanage Assistance Coordinator

Winter Update

Hi everyone,

We have been asked by many people if the orphanages we work in have any major needs due to the storm last week in China, and I just wanted to thank everyone for their concern.

We checked on all of our programs right away, and we are happy to report that they are doing very well, and the kids are really looking forward to their new year celebrations.

We are so grateful to our sponsors who provided new coats to all the children in our foster care and school programs this fall, as well as the donors who provided new heaters as well. We know that made a huge difference when the snow started falling.

The Fuyang orphanage in Anhui has made a request for coal assistance if possible. They have a simple radiator type heating system that we installed last year, and it requires coal to boil the water that circulates through the rooms. They have used up so much more coal than budgeted due to the cold temperatures, but they are happy to report that the babies are staying nice and warm so far.

Thanks again for all of your concerns for the children. We are so happy that the kids are doing well.