He Cares Foundation Street Children Caring Center: Help the Poor in Metro Manila, Philippines

Being a channel of God’s blessing to the poor especially the street children.

God Moves in Mysterious Ways
Back to God Program Update .........................................................................

Joe Dean visited the He Cares Village in Montalban to check the damages caused by Typhoon Ondoy. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that all the members of He Cares foundation were relatively okay.

What struck him was the devastation he saw along the river bank of the Marikina River near the village. Houses were washed away leaving the families homeless.

When he came back to bring relief goods for the village, he made sure that there were more for the homeless families along the riverbank.

These people were deeply moved by the gesture of the Foundation that they were included in the distribution of relief goods.

Joe Dean then invited them over to the village to attend the regular Wednesday prayer meeting.

Joe Dean was surprised to see that there were 100 new faces during the following week’s prayer meeting. On hindsight, the Foundation’s only aim then was to help them rebuild their lives. But what happened was it was not only a physical “rebuilding” of lives but a spiritual one as well.

Mangkok
by Reret Bonoan, He Cares Volunteer
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It was the mangkok (bowl) that got to me, or rather the lack thereof.

After handing out bags of relief goods, we asked the recipients to bring containers so we could serve them some arroz caldo with a boiled egg. A line of bowls, cups, glasses and recycled plastic food bins in varying sizes formed, accompanied by smiling faces lit by gratitude for what could be their main meal of the day.

But there were the few who didn’t have anything to use that touched me the most. They made do with a plate or a flimsy plastic bag or waited until someone finished their food so they could borrow the used dish.

My house is rife with containers of every sort; so many that they are mostly forgotten. I never considered that there are people who have none at all. None. Ondoy and its aftermath has been mind-boggling for the clueless.

*If you would like to help us in our regular feedings, please contact us!

When the Helper Receives Help
by Pao Antonio, He Cares Volunteer
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“The Mighty One has done great things for me... ” (Luke 1:49)

Disaster comes at a time when we least expect it.
This year has been both a challenge and triumph for our family.

You see, we were also victims of the recent flood caused by typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana). It ravaged three houses of ours.

We braved the raging muddy and filthy four feet waters. It left us with almost nothing except for the clothes on our back. We slept at the cold floor of the evacuation center waiting for any form of miracle to survive the night.

Oh, did I mention that I have a three year old son and a pregnant wife heavy with our seven-month old baby? It was a nightmare. Read more

Ondoy and the Foundation
Back to Home Program Update
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We are sure that you have heard so many horrifying stories about the havoc Typhoon Ondoy (International Name: Ketsana) wreaked on the lives of Filipinos.

On the other hand, you may have heard of heartwarming stories about how Filipinos, and even foreigners, extended help to those who were affected by the typhoon.

The Foundation has it own share of stories about how people helped families of the Foundation to rebuild their lives. Donations in cash and in kind poured in from all over the world.

In a special way, we'd like to thank all of you who have made these stories possible!

Kerygma
Light of Jesus - Bohol
Shepherd's Voice
Vintage Enterprises
STC HS Class ‘77
*as well as generous individuals who wish to remain anonymous

"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
(2 Corinthians 9:11)

Wishing you a Christ-filled Christmas season and a new year full of hope!

Read about life off the streets for these girls (see Best Friends article below)

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Worldfocus Feature:

Correspondent Mark Litke and producer Ara Ayer report their encounter with former child of the streets himself, Joe Dean Sola who has dedicated himself to improving the lives of street kids.

click here to view

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Treasures from the He Cares Workshop

Support the children & and their families by buying and promoting products and services from the He Cares workshop!

Our products include:

Beadwork Jewelry Scrapbook Stuff
Sewing + Silkscreening
Metal work
Catering
Bakery Oven

Some He Cares Products are distributed by Papemelroti Gift Shop

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Dream Big
by Joie Cabrillas

It all started as a prayer and a dream... I wanted to facilitate the affiliation of He Cares Missions to the College of Nursing, Manila Central University (MCU).

“Faith is believing in things you cannot see… (Hebrews 11:1)”

The dream has come to pass! On November 16, 2009, MCU College of Nursing started the affiliation with He Cares Missions.

A Resounding Blessing from the Lord

Malu Gott, a friend of the Foundation, brought her boss, Marijo Caronongan, to the Christmas celebration of He Cares last year.

Marijo witnessed how challenging and difficult it was for the emcee of the party to get everyone’s attention because of the very poor audio system.

Marijo felt she had to do something about it. She kept this in her heart until she asked Malu a few weeks ago to inquire from Joe Dean if they still needed a new audio system.

When she found out that it was still a problem for the Foundation, she right away pledged to shoulder the cost for the new audio system.

The good news is that after 13 long years of agonizing over the worn out audio system, He Cares now has a brand new one. What a resounding blessing from the Lord!

More at

A Bigger Opportunity to Serve

The He Cares Village in Montalban is situated in a government relocation site in Rizal. It started in 2003 when some of the families who were part of the He Cares Foundation in Quezon City were relocated by the government after their homes were demolished.

They requested Bro. Joe Dean to support them by bringing all the programs of the Foundation in Montalban. The Foundation rented one unit to serve as its office, clinic, stockroom, meeting area, etc. As the years passed and its membership grew, we felt the need to have a bigger space. We wanted to purchase one unit which was ideally located but the owner was not interested to sell.

Last October 29, 2009, the owner himself called up Bro. Joe Dean and offered to sell his unit. Without much ado, Bro. Joe Dean met with the owner the following day and closed the deal. With a bigger place to move about, there is more that can be done for the brothers and sisters in Montalban.

Hope for a Brighter Tomorrow
Back to School Program Update
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At present, there are 230 kids enrolled under the Back-to-school Program but only 119 of them have sponsors who pay for their daily transportation and meal allowances.

This is the reason why all-year round the Foundation never stops looking for more sponsors. It is a sad reality that one major cause of absenteeism among our kids is inadequate family resources to support a child’s school needs.

Here’s good news for 4 kids! Mike and Vivian (not their real names) are new friends of the Foundation. They were introduced to us by a dear friend, Marion. While on vacation here, they spent some with everyone at the Foundation. Read more

*The sponsored He Cares students cannot succeed in school without the dedicated volunteer tutors we have had through the years. Many of these kids do not have the privileges and resources other children have. Volunteer as a child tutor today!

Best Friends Forever
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Angel and Gege are the best of friends. They have been together since birth. Their parents have exactly the same livelihood. You see, these two little girls belong to the thousands of street families that live in carton boxes and newspapers.

Home for these two girls is the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Quezon City. Gege is 11 years old and is the eldest of 9 siblings. Angel is 12 years old and is 2nd to the eldest in a family of 8.

Birds of the Same Feather Flock Together
Back to Health Program Update
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Remember Dra. Mildred Capuz? She is our EENT volunteer doctor who tirelessly takes care of all the children at the Center. Read more about her in our 3rd quarter issue.

It seems like she is not content with the service that she is already doing for us. She talked to her dentist friend, Dr. Palana to extend free dental service to the He Cares Foundation. Without batting an eyelash, Dr. Palana agreed to open her clinic to serve us anytime. Dra. Capuz is in good company!

*Doctors, Dentists, Optometrists, Nurses and other health practitioners are very much needed in the care of the children and their families.

For Volunteer Schedules, subscribe to hecares_volunteers@
yahoogroups.com

For the volunteer writers team, subscribe to hecares_communications @yahoogroups.com

*All articles are by the He Cares Communication Volunteers

Check these links:

Lahat Kami Bayani (We can all be heroes!)
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The busload of He Cares scholars were excited to reach the Montalban watershed to plant trees!

Jenny, 8 years old (left side of picture) said "Ang saya pala mag tree-planting!" (I didn't know it was such fun to go plant trees!) as they interacted last Nov. 21 with the North Sector singles from Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community led by Jojo Baquiano.

The group wanted to teach the children that even children can be heroes if they contribute in whatever they can to help others.

The kids partnered with the adults to plant 100 trees in the hillside portion to help reforest and prevent further flooding and mudslides known to occur in the nearby lower areas.

Everyone had a grand time and the children got to learn about the value of conservation through the engaging presentation of the UP Mountaineers led by Fredd Ochavo.

We'd like to thank Victory Liner for providing the transportation, DENR for their assistance, the He Cares moms who cooked the sumptuous lunch, servers, donors and everyone who made this event possible!

He Cares Foundation Coordinators

Brenda Deyto
Balik Loob sa Diyos Coordinator

Judith Enriquez
Balik Aral Coordinator

Joe Dean Sola
Balik Kalusugan Coordinator

Gem Alvarez
Balik Bahay Coordinator

Ardis Sola
Balik Hanapbuhay Coordinatory

He Cares Foundation
#11 Acuña Drive, Philvirra Homes, Project 8, Quezon City
Tel. No. (632) 928-8910, (632) 453-01-00, (call 1:00 - 5:00 pm)
Cel. No. 63916+6115431

http://www.hecaresfoundation.com

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