At-risk New York Kids Help Iraqi Children

Operation Blessing’s New York Bless-A-Child program helps over 3,000 at-risk children every year. This summer the boys and girls will “Give Something Back – for the children of Iraq” by holding two-dozen fund raisers that will include lemonade stands and car washes. May 17th’s Carousel Café kicked-off the season with the help of 100 young and adult volunteers! Here's what happened… . On Saturday, the smell of 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers grilling in the open air enticed people into using the OBI Express trolley from The Friends of Kaiser Park Arts Fair to The Carousel Cafe. Curiosity was peaked enough that it is estimated more than 800 guests visited throughout the afternoon. They wandered through the food stands, flea market and plant sale. Guests watched the Dance for Joy girls perform on the main stage. About 100 also bought a dove ornament for $1 and adorned the “Tree of Peace” with it. Children rode on the carousel and Ferris wheel. All of these people kept the young volunteers busy! They helped adults run the different stations, acted as waiters, and drink servers. Not only did children that are currently benefiting from the Bless-A-Child program participate, many young adults were there that received help five and ten years ago. Young women like Alicia.

Alicia, 18, has participated for years in the children’s programs and activities sponsored by Bless-A-Child. After her family of eight lost their home and business to financial difficulties seven years ago, they sought refuge at Jesus Revival Center, an OBI partner. Over the years Alicia learned character development skills and grew. She recently received a full scholarship at Stoneybrook University in Long Island and plans on studying medicine! “Operation Blessing…has only been proven beneficial to my life, the church and the community as a whole,” she comments. “I believe it is my duty to give something back, especially with an opportunity like this [Carousel Café] to witness and share the love of God through the Operation Blessing and Bless-A-Child programs.” Carousel Café also crossed racial and religious barriers. A couple of days after the event a Muslim man saw the sign still hanging on the outside of Coney Island Gospel Assembly and came in. After inquiring if we were really helping Iraqi children and reading a copy of a Iraq mission update from the OBI Web site, he gave a $50 donation. New York outreach center leader Jim Esposito commented, “I think it speaks volumes when a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist and even a Hindu all support something at the same time -- and they (at least one from each religion) have all given this weekend to Operation Blessing's work.” He continued, "A ripple effect of love begins when someone out there sends in a contribution to Operation Blessing. Thousands of New York City kids are helped through our Bless-A-Child programs each year. These very kids are now giving something back to reach children in another nation. Look how far one gift can go!" Thanks to OBI volunteers from Majors Minors, Jesus Revival Center, Coney Island Gospel Assembly, Salt & Sea Mission, and Franklin Street Kids, every penny collected from Carousel Café will go to Operation Blessing International’s Iraq relief fund. This is just the beginning! If those living at “Ground Zero” themselves are dedicated to raise funds to help Iraqi children and their families, how much more should can we do! Please help us meet the critical needs of Iraqi children today!

Please Bless-A-Child today!