Connie's Home - A Group Foster Home - 2025 Budget

Our last report included the celebration of former foster children visiting us after many years as well as recent adoptions.

This report is different because the directors lost 2 family members to ALS and cancer while in the US for the third time in the past year. During the most recent trip, the children's homes were evacuated 2 times due to historic flooding in Chiang Mai. Thanks to amazing volunteers and faithful Thai staff, the children seemed to enjoy their 2 'retreats' to other locations.

The first flood waters came within inches of entering the home, so when the threat of a 2nd flood came, we were slow to make the evacuation decision, partly because we were making decisions at night and logistics would be challenging. So, we decided to wait. By the next morning, the waters had risen more than expected, so much that it wasn't safe to drive vehicles in for this evacuation. Volunteers parked over 100 yards (meters) away and walked through flood waters to carry the children out. They relocated to a different facility since the first evacuation site was also flooded.

After the children and staff left the home, we were able to watch security cameras as water entered our homes. Again, volunteers worked hard to clean the houses after the water receded so the children only spent 5 nights away from home. We are still assessing the total damage cost of replacing furniture, toys, supplies and water pumps. Connie and Richard will return November 9 and we can see the situation in person. Thankfully, we've received several financial gifts that we expect will cover most repair and replacement costs.

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