Wednesday, November 7, 2007

My House Luncheon and Fund Raiser

A number of years ago, my friend Joan Rorabaugh was watching The Oprah Winfrey Show on TV and happened to see Donna Carson, a social worker for the neonatal ICU at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA, talk about the home she was providing for medically fragile babies. Donna saw too many infants left to linger in the hospital nursery when their mother's couldn't or wouldn't raise them. Sadly, many of the moms were drug addicts who returned to the streets with little thought about the babies they left behind.

Donna knew the infants needed love and attention and a home where they could thrive. Using grant money, private donations and a check for $100,000 from Oprah's "Use Your Life" award, Donna soon had an inner-city Victorian house furnished with baby items and ready to accept seven children.

That was in 1999. Since then, a steady stream of little ones has lived at My House where a full-time staff and over 250 volunteers give the children round-the-clock care. My friend Joan became one of those dedicated volunteers. After hearing her talk about the miracles she'd seen when babies who weren't supposed to survive grew healthy and strong, I wanted to get involved. In 2002, I wrote an article about My House for Southern Lady magazine, and soon after that I joined the Sponsor-a-Baby program.

Today Joan and I will join more than 200 My House friends for a luncheon and silent auction to raise more money so that the work Donna started in 1999 can continue into the future. If you'd like to help, go to www.myhouseweb.org or contact Donna Carson, P.O. Box 55127, Atlanta, GA 30308.

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Glad to know about this luncheon done to raise the funds of the orphanage home. Wish could attend this event. Couple of days back I attended a luncheon at one of Seattle venues. I was astonished to find lovely décor done along with luscious food. Honestly had a fun time there.