December 2005 NEWSLETTER
Coordinator Nancy M. Mendenhall
P.O. box 1141 Nome, Alaska 99762
(907) 443-2455
nfnmm @ yahoo.com
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send a message to e-mail address above.
For general information about Chukotka: www.faculty.uaf.edu/ffapg/chukotka.html
For specific information about our direct mailing network and how to mail gifts: www.uuff.org/chukotka
December 15, 2005
Holiday Greetings to you all! I hope you are staying
warm, but not too warm as our polar ice continues to
melt.
Thank you for all your continuing support to this
great project finishing its sixth year. I had opportunity to talk directly with two residents of
Providenya this month. They had the same message--that
things are much better over there, and that poor
families in outlying villages without regular jobs
still need help with things they simply can't afford
like clothing, mainly outdoor gear: boots and jackets.
They still have a hard time finding things in their village stores, especially kids' clothing and
footwear. The letters we have received tell the same
stories. They are very grateful for what has been
sent. Some do not ask for anything, just write a long descriptive interesting letter and list the ages of
their children. Others need a specific thing and we
try to send it.
Yarn is still a huge need and we have sent it in
almost every box that goes over. Thanks to all of you who
have supplied it. We have used the funds you sent to
send a fish net to everyone who asked for one. We know
the need for our help is relaxed for people with
regular jobs, but most are herders, hunters and
fishermen who get a small stipend, if anything,
perhaps a pension for children, and these are the ones
who write, almost always.
The polar warming is hard on the reindeer herds and
there was an international meeting of herders recently
regarding this issue. This is the major occupation of
villages in Chukotka, although they are trying to
develop their minerals. Hunters are also alarmed as
they see that the melting ice is affecting the sea
mammals they depend on. Polar bears are seen by
scientists that have drowned, unable to find ice. This
is a first occurence. The coast is eroding on the
Alaskan side, so that may be happening over there too.
We heard that Roman Abramovich has been asked to
stay on as appointed governor by Pres. Putin, and this
is good for the region as he has accomplished much.
One woman told me that she was chaperone for 33 youth
to the Ukraine for a two month health rest/ vacation,
so this means that the government is still providing
these opportunities to the children.
At least one cruise ship was able to make a
successful cruise up the coast, stopping at several
villages, and we hope that means that more will make
it next year, bringing in a little visitor income and
sales for craftspeople. It's slow!
You in this AFOC network can feel glad that you have
helped so many families in a personal way to make it
through some very tough times, and you can know that
almost nothing of your resources went to
administration. This year, the AFOC admin cost was
ZERO due to the way we were able to absorb costs of
tape, envelopes, phone, etc.
Here are the AFOC statistics for the year as of
Dec. 15, 2005:
Letters received from families: 98 (that were
reported)
Letters answered with at least one box: 88 (reported)
However some families got from 2 to 10 boxes,
depending on which group was sending them. Some did
not seem to need anything.
Boxes sent that I know of: 135. More have been sent
from Anchorage, Russian Native Ministry, that I do not
have the complete count on.
Fish nets sent: 17 ( and other fish gear not counted)
Yarn contributors: 12
Cash contributors: 14 (for postage and fish nets)
Total cash received in Nome for this: $3255 ($1000
of this from Nome United Methodist Women. Also they
allowed us to take any clothes from their Thrift Shop
here free of charge.)
The rest of the groups in the network that mailed
direct (23) paid for their own postage.
***This time I would like to especially thank
Maggie H. and her group at the UMC at Decatur, Indiana
for their huge shipment they collected and sent to
their large extended family, and others as well.
Thank you again for another successful year! As long
as we keep getting letters from Chukotka's
remote, unemployed families with children, we will
continue to send as we are able. So far we have been
able to keep up. We get some very nice letters back,
and occasionally photos or drawings.
Pray for peace and for a good New Year coming.
Nancy Mendenhall, Coordinator
AFOC September 2005 Newsletter
AFOC April 2005 Newsletter
AFOC April 2004 Newsletter
AFOCJanuary 2004 Newsletter
AFOC September 2003 Newsletter
AFOC September 2001 Newsletter
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