REFUGEE GARDEN KIDS

Friends,

I need help.

As you know, Mohamad and I have unexpectedly, and gradually, taken on a huge responsibility with these kids. We are essentially providing support for 11 kids and 5 families.

We love them,
we are committed to them,
and we don’t want to give up on them.

I know many of you have grown to love them too,
and have wondered what you can do to help them.

Well, here is your chance.

I have been personally shouldering the financial responsibility of caring for them, but it has gotten too much for me to sustain.

Turkey is not as cheap a country as you would think. Between the cost of the maintaining the ghetto house so the kids have a place to come…the utilities, water, gas...the day to day food...clothing....medical... and support for the moms…this all adds up to around $3600USD/month.

I’ve passed my breaking point.
It is hard for me to ask for help,

but it is just too much to for me….
and that is why I am asking for help.

Many of you have been amazing in stepping up for the kids with tuition and other support. You have been ANGELS at just the right times. But unfortunately it is still a fraction of what it is taking to keep The Garden and all these little people going.

If you want to help, and CAN help, we would really welcome it right now.

I understand that not everyone can help financially, so if you are out there and love these kids as much as we do, don’t be shy about just saying 'hi' on a comment thread. Your moral support on this journey means a lot to us too, and encourages us to keep going.
 

If you CAN help, here is how you can get it to us:

I am hesitant to setup another gofundme. If you are Canadian, they take 8% of every donation you make, and quite frankly, I think that is ridiculous. That money can be put to good use elsewhere right now, like grilled sandwiches, bandaids and new underwear for the kids.

The best and easiest is paypal ([email redacted]), or interact if you are in Canada.

RECIEPTS
Unfortunately I am not an NGO, I am just me. Setting up a non-profit takes time and money that we don’t have right now. And 99% of the support we spend on the kids is in cash. From rent and bills to our landlord, to shopping in markets for food and clothes for the kids. This is the ghetto in Turkey. Cash is king.

This important administrative reporting detail makes it hard for us to be an official non-profit, and/or be supported by an NGO. We recently found that out the hard way.

DONATE:
If you can donate, please do.

FUNDRAISE:
If you want to do a fundraiser for the kids,
we will support you 100% in any way we can.

A BBQ?

A school bake sale?

A yogathon?

Bong- a thon

...whatever floats your boat and gathers people that care together to help these kids...we will support.

VISIT:
If you want to come to Turkey and hang out with the kids and us, you can do that too.

THE GARDEN DIARIES

I will try and do my best to keep The Garden AND the Diaries going so you will have a window into teh lives and hearts of the kids.

DOCUMENTARY
I would really like to document this summer of their life on film. If you are interested in financing or co-producing a documentary about the kids, PM me.

Thank you all for being there, and for caring about these kids.
They are amazing and they deserve it.

You ARE the change.

One Love,

Rory

READ THE BACKSTORY

Read how we met these kids and our Garden Diaries here:

_____________________________________

THE GARDEN DIARIES

Friday, June 11th
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156993888835557

Thursday, June 10th
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156989942085557

Wednesday, June 9th
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156985168230557

Tuesday, June 8th
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156977140020557

Monday, June 6th
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156966116750557

Sunday, June 5th
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156961599905557

Saturday, June 4th
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156958766585557

Friday, June 3rd
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156958733130557

21) Batman of Balat
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156707973270557

22) Too Cool for School - (Meeting the Lucky 7 for the first time)
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156731694510557

23) First Day of School
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156736237485557

UPDATE ON THE LUCKY 7 Part I
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156778550850557

UPDATE ON THE LUCKY 7 Part II
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156889485610557

EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL
https://www.facebook.com/theroryrichards/posts/10156889485610557