Thursday, August 7, 2008

Two Hearts of Hope

This organization is just 1 example of what people can do if they put their hearts into something!




Two Hearts for Hope was started in January 2008 by two women, Kim and Stacy, who traveled to Kazakhstan in 2007 to adopt their own children. Going through the adoption process from April to June 2007 made Kim and Stacy aware of the environment that these orphans reside in. Less than perfect conditions with not enough supplies plague these orphanages and make these children’s lives very hard. After seeing these conditions first-hand and how many children are still awaiting adoption in Kazakhstan, Kim and Stacy decided to create Two Hearts for Hope. The organization intends to make Kazak orphans lives better while they wait for a caring family to adopt them. Every month Two Hearts for Hope takes donations for items ranging from shoes and socks, to hygiene products, to toys. These donations are boxed up and carried to Kazakhstan by other families looking to adopt a child. While there, the boxes are dropped off to various orphanages for the children. The supplies enrich the lives of these orphans and help to add joy and hope to them as they wait to be adopted. Kim and Stacy started this organization all on their own and it has grown immensely to help make 1,000s of Kazak orphans lives better. Two Hearts for Hope continues to accept donations for Kazak orphans and is currently planning a trip to Kazakhstan to personally deliver these presents to the orphans.

If you would like to learn more about Two Hearts For Hope visit http://www.twoheartsforhope.blogspot.com/.

Not only have they created a fantastic organization to help these children, they are nominated by Michelle Reed, a fellow Kaz mom and board member for an Adoption Award handed out by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Each year, Members of Congress are given the opportunity to select individuals, families or organizations from their home state, who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, loving homes. Each Congressperson chooses one individual or organization to honor. Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri has chosen to honor US because of our dedication to adoption and positive child welfare practices. We will be traveling to Washington DC in September to received our award on the White House lawn and to attend the tenth annual Angels in Adoption gala. This event boasts more Congressional participation than any child welfare event in the nation, with 193 members of Congress participating and more than 850 guests in attendance at the gala last year.

I hope by reading this, I have inspired just 1 person to go do something that will make a difference in someone's life.


Together we can make a difference!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great organization! Thanks for posting.

Kim said...

Thanks Robin for helping spread the word and spotlighting the wonderful children of Kazakhstan.

~Kim and Stacy

Sandi said...

Robin,
Thank you for highlighting this organization and for helping focus on the orphans in Kazakhstan. I can't wait until your niece comes home from there.

Love you,
Sandi

Easy Chicken Pasta

Easy Chicken Pasta

What's For Supper Ya'll?

White Beans, Pasta and Chicken
8 ounces dried cavatappi, fusilli, rotini, ditaloni, or other short pasta tubes
1 15- to 19-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)
12 ounces cooked chicken, shredded
1/4 cup snipped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley sprigs (optional - I usually skip it)
Olive oil (optional - but I recommend at least a little for moisture)
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions; drain well and set aside.
2. In a blender or food processor, combine 3/4 cup of the beans and the chicken broth. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Place bean puree in pan used for cooking the pasta; bring to boiling. Return pasta to pan.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook garlic in 1 tablespoon hot olive oil for 1 minute. Add tomatoes; cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining beans, shredded chicken, snipped parsley, pepper and salt. Heat through.
4. Add the tomato mixture to hot pasta; toss to cost. Top with parsley sprigs and additional olive oil. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.
Posted by Stacy Nelson, Easy Dinner Recipes.blogspot.com

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