2007 Grant from Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation for Projects:

$10, 500
5 Hospital beds for Donetsk Children’s Hospital
Milk to 30 children 2x per week
50 new mattresses for older orphans
3190 disposable diapers  (4 facilities for 3 months)
medicines for 3 orphan facilities

Boots for Orphans –estimated benefit – $600.00
January 2007
Winters are harsh in Ukraine, and boots are scarce.  Government support for proper footwear is not a priority.  Kristy Cates took it upon her herself to coordinate donation efforts of winter boots for orphans.  Over 200 pr. were collected and shipped.
Cost:  $150.00 for shipping
Project Coordinator:  Kristy Cates
Project Volunteer:  Teresa Fillmon

Bilirubin Lights for Baby Hospital – estimated benefit – $250.00
January 2007
An orphanage in Crimea expressed a need for special medical lights for pre-mature babies.
Project Coordinator:  Beth Tuszynski
Project Cost:  $200.00
Number of orphans served:  100

Go Bananas for Orphans – estimated benefit – $1091.00 – distributed casts  $1500.00
Jan. 2007
This program originally started in 2005, continues today, with added support. After assessing the need for fruit to orphans, volunteer Kristy Cates took on the challenge of raising funds to purchase bananas.   This fundraising was in conjunction with Lowndes Co. High School, and several ‘coin can’ drives.  Students do this 2x a year, where they raise from $800.00- $1700.00 each time.
Project Coordinator:  Kristy Cates
Project Volunteers:  80 students at Lowndes High School, Valdosta GA
Project Funding:  funds collected
Project achievement:  $1091.00 was collected in 4 days from students.  This will purchase 9100 bananas in Ukraine for orphans.  This fruit will be distributed over the next 4 months, to children 3-18 at several difference facilities.  School and volunteers collect funds 2x a year to support this project.

Tutoring – On-going program – estimated benefit – $2400.00  (invaluable as these children will succeed in school!!!)
Academically delayed children are tutored to prevent scholastic failure.
Cost:  $2400.00 – 2 private grants secured through individuals
Project Coordinator:  Ray Grayham and Teresa Fillmon
Number of orphans served:  10

Sweatshirts for Go Bananas for Orphans Project – $1000.00
February 2007
With the same intention for raising funds for purchasing fruit for orphans in Ukraine, the students at Lowndes C. High School, designed and sold sweatshirts.  They raised $780.00 for the purchase of fruit.
Cost of project:  shirts were purchased at cost, and sold at a profit, there was no initial outlay from His Kids, Too!
Project Coordinator:  Kristy Cates
Project Volunteers:  50 students at Lowndes High School, Valdosta, GA

Fruit Purchase – estimated value and distributed – $950.00
February 2007
Director, Teresa Fillmon was asked to provide a presentation to students at Lincoln High School, Tallahassee, FL   concerning the plight of orphans in Ukraine.   Presentations were given to approx. 150 students.  Students decided to formulate a project to help purchase fruit for orphans.  They organized the project and collected coins, as a ‘penny war’, between classes.    Project collected:  $658.00 in coins to purchase fruit for orphans.
Project Coordinator:  Cara Coxwell
Project Volunteers:  75 Lincoln High School Students

Underwear and Sock Project – estimated benefit – $750.00
March 2007
During our Spring 2007 trip, it was brought to our attention the need for underwear and socks for the children in Torez, Dzerzhinsk Internot, Donetsk Shelter for street children, and the Novghorosk Internot.  This need we felt cold be met through fundraising efforts in several local churches.  Walter Steely took on this project and with the help of 4 churches, gathered 500 pr. of underwear and 550 pr. of socks.
Cost:  NONE, donors paid for shipping
Project Coordinator:  Walter Steely

Bathroom Renovation Project – estimated benefit – $2500.00
March 2007
During the fall 2006 trip to Ukraine, it was brought to our attention the deplorable conditions of the toilets at one orphanage for children 5-18 yrs. of age.  Of the 4 toilets, none flushed, and 2 were broken off at the floor level, rendering them not usable.   Upon returning to the states, the need was made known, via the Newsletter with supporting photos of the toilet conditions that children were given.  After several months, a sponsor was located, and a grant was requested.  Funds were taken to the facility, where the toilet room was completely renovated.
Cost of the project:  $2500.00
Project Coordinator:  Teresa Fillmon

Hospital Beds for Children’s Hospital  – estimated benefit $1200.00 + transportation, $200.00
May 2007
A children’s hospital expressed a need for beds, as the present ones were in disrepair and unsafe.   His Kids, Too! purchased 50 new beds for the hospital.
Cost of project:  $1200.00 – Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation
Project Coordinator:  Ray Grayham
Project Volunteers:  Denis Lapin, Lynn Allison, Teresa Fillmon

Backpacks for Shelter Children – estimated benefit – plus shipping $400.00
May 2007
Homeless children in Ukraine have few ‘rights’, and few liberties.  When they are brought to a Shelter, they are given a new set of clothing (the old are burned), and new shoes.  During our last visit, it was brought to our attention that these children needed school supplies/backpacks for school.  Advisory Board Member Anita Beach decided to take this project, and solicited her home congregation for the funds.  She was able to commit to the needed 70 Backpacks,
Cost:  $247.00   Funds raised
Project Coordinator:  Anita Beach
Project Volunteer:  Teresa Fillmon, Alla Fillmon, Ray Grayham
Number of Orphans Served:  70

CROCS for KIDS  – estimated benefit – $3450.00
Summer 2007
When the Bible camp plans for 2007 were solidified, Advisory Board member, Kristy Cates volunteered to organize a shoe drive for the camp children.  Children are ‘hard’ on shoes, and extra funding is not available for summer sandals.  Kristy notified, director Teresa Fillmon of this desire, and the CROCS for KIDS project was introduced nationwide through the monthly Newsletter, starting in April.  Over 400 pair of CROCS were collected from various churches, schools, and individuals.  These were given to children at the annual Bible camp, July 2-6th, 2007.
Cost of Project:  $250.00 (shipping)
Project Coordinator:  Kristy Cates
Project Volunteers:  Walter Steely, Teresa Fillmon, Marcia Hines, Jason Turner

BIBLE CAMP JULY 2nd – 6th, 2007 – estimated benefit  –  $6500.00
Ukraine, overall, is not a Christian nation.  Since becoming its own country in 1991, Ukraine has struggled with religious freedom.  In 2000, after much negotiation with local officials a group of Christians were permitted to teach ‘good moral lessons’ to children in Ukraine.  The first 2 years, this was done with school children, through this group.  In 2003, Teresa Fillmon asked and received permission to include orphans in the summer camp.  2003 was the first year to introduce Bible lessons to the local orphans in the city of Dzerzhinsk Ukraine.
After the camp of 2006, His Kids, Too! made a decision to branch out on its own to have their own camp.  This was for various reasons, but one in part was due to scheduling.  Putting together a camp to host 125 children along with a team of people was decided for Summer of 2007.
July 2-6th was the first His Kids, Too! camp for orphans and needy children in the city of Dzerzhinsk Ukraine.  Coordination of this was done with local education officials and the mayor.  Children were fed breakfast and lunch daily, and provided with moral lessons, using the Bible as their handbook.  Each child was given an age appropriate Bible, and crafts for each day of lessons.  Additionally, children were given gifts from teachers, and staff.  A team of 38 Americans and Ukrainians were assembled to translate, and present lessons to the children.   Twenty Americans traveled from the U.S., to Kyiv and then traveled by train to Dzerzhinsk, traveling the remainder of the way by local transport.  They lodged in local homes, and at the orphanage.  All meals were provided for the team, in addition to transportation and interpreters.
Effect:  this is a long term project, and our plan is to return annually to present this Bible camp to this facility and branch out to other local facilities.  The local church is involved with this project, and when they are able, they visit the orphanage for follow-up Bible classes.
Cost of Project:  $6200.00
Project Coordinator:  Teresa Fillmon
Project Volunteers: Edward Volkov, Vanya Litvan

September 30, 2007 – Diabetic Supplies – estimated benefit – $1600.00 (supplies and shipping)
There has been an ongoing need for diabetic supplies for patients in Ukraine.  A volunteer saw this need, and fundraised for this project.  A year of supplies were purchased for 8 patients.
Cost of Project:  $1300.00 – funds raised
Project Coordinator:  Beth Carr
Project Volunteers – Teresa Fillmon, Ray Grayham

October 2007 – Shower room Remodeling – estimated benefit – $5000.00
During the spring 2007 trip to Ukraine, it was brought to our attention the deplorable conditions of the showers at one orphanage for children 5-18 yrs. of age.  The bathing facility, consisted of a ‘trough’ and one water spicket for children to stand and bath under.  There were 2 other spickets, but they lacked handles, rendering them not usable.   Upon returning to the states, the need was made known, via the Newsletter with supporting photos of the shower conditions that children were given. A sponsor was located, and a grant was requested.  Funds were taken to the facility, where the shower room was completely renovated.
Cost of the project:  $4500.00 – funded by a private donor
Project Coordinator:  Teresa Fillmon

November 2007 – Surgery for Invalid Orphans – estimated benefit – $700.00
Two invalid children received surgery for severe cleft palette.  His Kids Too! organized the entire project, from Dr. appointments, consultation, transportation to and from the orphanage facility to the hospital, direct ‘pre and post’ surgery care, cost of project.  The 2 children, Artum, 14, and Ira 18 are recovering well, and will have additional surgery in March 2008.
Cost of project:   $510.00 –
Project Coordinator – Ray Grayham
Project Volunteers – Lynn Allison, Masha Benzuk

December 2007/January 2008 – Christmas Box distribution – $20,000 + distribution costs – $3000.00 – $23,000 (total)
Orphan children in Ukraine receive nothing for Christmas.  There are no government funds for gifts, a special meal, not even a Christmas tree.  After contacting Samaritains Purse asking for assistance for orphans, and receiving none, we decided to take the project on ourselves.  Volunteers were asked to gather gift boxes.  Plastic show boxes were filled with personal care items (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothbrush and paste, floss, chapstick), small toys, slippers, socks, art supplies, anything that would fit in the box.  Boxes were labeled for gender and age appropriateness.  Volunteers traveled to Ukraine December 28, 2006 – January 12, 2007 to hand deliver these boxes to over 1000 orphans.
Cost of project:  $915.00+ shipping of the boxes (approx.)
Project Coordinator:  Teresa Fillmon,  Rich Fillmon
Project Volunteers:  Edward Volkov, Sam Hooker, Shawn Coughlin, Erin Ford, Michelle Smith, Lydia Hughes, Walter Steely,  Linda Goodnight,, Mac and Linda McCorvey, Carolyn Holifield, Heidi Hartman, Angie Welch.
Members of:
Independent Presbyterian Church
Glendale Rd. Church of Christ
Meridian Woods Church of Christ
Millbrook Presbyterian Church
Central Baptist Church