What's New / Upcoming Events

Information Meetings Scheduled for "Journeys of Joy 2012
Arrangements for "Journeys of Joy 2012", a summer visit program for Russian orphans sponsored by "Friends of Russian Orphans", are now underway. "Journeys of Joy" can have a profound impact on the life of an orphan as well as the American families with whom they interact during the program. Mentor families are needed to participate in the program this summer. If you have ever wanted to respond to God's call to care for orphans in a deeply personal way, then we urge you to attend an upcoming information meeting. Three programs are currently scheduled:

 

1. Sunday, January 22 at 2:00 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 4560 Glendale Ave; Toledo, Ohio 43614

 

2. Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 at McCord Road Christian Church, 4765 McCord Road; Sylvania, Ohio 43560

 

3. Thursday, February 23 at 7:00 PM at McCord Road Christian Church, 4765 McCord Road; Sylvania, Ohio 43560.

Mentor families must live approximately 75 miles of Toledo. Please feel free to share this invitation with others who you feel may be interested. Let's make this summer the summer of a lifetime...not just for an orphan but for you!

  

Mentor families must live approximately 75 miles of Toledo. Please feel free to share this
invitation with others who you feel may be interested. Let's make this summer the summer of a
lifetime...not just for an orphan but for you!

 

Arms of Hope to Continue in 2012
We are pleased to report that "Friends of Russian Orphans" will be continuing the "Arms of Hope" program again in 2012 with the help of our Russian colleagues at the non-profit organization, Deti Nashi. "Arms of Hope" is one of FORO's most ambitious undertakings. Through this program, leading child development experts help train both caregivers at specific b...aby homes as well as volunteers in modern techniques concerning child development and attachment issues. The risk of cognitive, emotional and physical impairment is extremely high for children in orphanages who lack proper stimulation, contact and even human touch. Through this program, our trained team of Christian volunteers supplements the activity of the caregivers and provide one-on-one interaction with very young children. Through the consistency in interaction with the volunteers, the children in this program have a much better chance of minimizing the potentially devastating consequences attachment disorder and developmental loss.

 

FORO to Fund Cooking Program in Shatalovo Orphanage. 
This new project evolves from the "What's Cooking" program.  At the Shatalovo Orphanage, "What's Coking" has been so popular that a number of the youth expressed interest in pursuing cooking as a career.  But, without more training, equipment and experience this would not be possible.  FORO has stepped up and in 2012 will be establishing a cooking studio and a teacher to train these young people in cooking which hopefully will help them become self-sufficient and become employed in the future.

 

Pastor Timothy Carr joins FORO Board of Directors.
Pastor Tim Carr, Senior Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio, has joined the FORO Board of Directors. Pastor Carr and his wife, Catherine, are the parents of three children and are in the process of adopting a young boy from the Arkhangelsk region of Russia whom they encountered as a result of the FORO "Journeys of Joy" program. Pastor Carr's passion for orphan care, his spiritual guidance, and his solid judgment will add a rich dimension to FORO's leadership. Thanks, Tim, for joining the team!!!

 

Journeys of Joy 2011
For the third straight year, FORO has arranged for orphans from the Arkhangelsk region to spend part of their summer in NW Ohio.  From July 15-August 1, nine children from the orphanage in Sol Vichgegodsk visited Toledo.  Trinity Lutheran Church served as their "bunkhouse" and the children were matched were host families who mentored and cared for the children during their visit.  The children participated in the "Big Jungle Adventure" vacation Bible school at Trinity and also visited Imagination Station, the Toledo Zoo, and the Toledo Museum of Art in addition to enjoying picnics, visits to parks, bike riding and of course, swimming, swimming and more swimming!  This program has truly been life changing for the children and their mentor families. Thanks to all who helped make it possible.

 

 

 

FORO Featured on TV 
FORO the the 2011 Jounreys of Joy program have been featured in several recent television news reports.  Click here to view these reports.

 

 

Academic and Health Awards Granted. 

FORO is helping the orphanage in Sol Vichegodsk promote positive life choices through academic and health awards.  This program has been developed by the new director of the orphanage.

 

Literary Club Receives New Books. 
The reading club at the Velsk orphanage will be receiving new books, thanks to FORO.  Literature and reading have always been an important part of Russian life but many of the books at the orphanages are old and outdated.  FORO is glad to be able to provide more contemporary selections for the children to enjoy.

 

FORO to Supply New Water System at Baby Home

FORO is working with a baby home in the Nizhniy Novgorod region to provide a water purifiation system.  The orphanage is located in Dzherinzsk, identified as one of the most highly polluted cities in the world.  The orphanage is home to many disabled children for whom the need for clean, fresh water is even greater. 

 

Orphanage Improvement Activity

FORO is working with two insitutions on much needed bathroom facilities.  At one orphanage, FORO is installing showers where currently only limited bath facilities exist.  In another location, the director has requested help in constructing partitions between the stalls in the communal bathroom.  FORO believes this is an important project in helping adolescents maintain the privacy and dignity for children whose self-esteem is frequently very low. 

 

New Dima Program Project

The Dima Project is FORO's medical assistance program.  FORO has agreed to fund the acquisition of two special gurneys that will enable an orphanage with many disabled children to be transferred more easily throughout the orphanage.  This may enable profoundly disabled children to get fresh air and to encounter different surroundings than they otherwise might have. 

 

FORO to launch "Journeys of Joy" 2011! 

After a successful program in 2009 and 2010, FORO intends to proceed with a third summer visit program this July.  "Journeys of Joy 2011" will be similar in format to the previous programs (click here).   Please pray for the success of this year's "Journeys of Joy" program.