18,000 Textbooks

One of the coolest parts of my role since moving back to the States has been seeing college students get excited about CARE for AIDS.  At first I wasn’t sure how much I would like working with our textbook drive project, but it’s so rewarding when you see how incredibly passionate these students are about making a difference in Kenya through engaging everyone on their campus.  It’s amazing how creative they can be, and I’m always impressed by how many of them will just absolutely not take no for an answer!  Whether that is convincing restaurants to donate to their tables or going door-to-door to collect books, they continue to raise the bar.

This past fall semester, our students set a new record for us by collecting over 18,000 textbooks!  That turned in to over $86,000 – absolutely mind-boggling.  Our whole team, both here and in Kenya, appreciates their hard work more than we can say.  Check out this video to see Cornel and Duncan’s response:

While our leaders aren’t too sure about having many children wished on them just yet, it’s so cool to see how their efforts putting up flyers, speaking to groups, and manning a textbook drive table are actually reverberating around the world!

What do you think?  If 25 college students can raise $86k in one semester by discovering value in old textbooks, what can you do to take advantage of the unique situations around you?  Leave us a comment if you have ideas or if you want to send a message back to Cornel and Duncan! 

More stats on the fall textbook drives here

Video not working?  See it on YouTube here:  http://youtu.be/z-qBrn4va80

Video: Kenya Trip Report

Check out this incredible video that the talented staff at Brainerd Baptist Church produced about the church’s recent Impact Trip to Kenya with CARE for AIDS.  Praise the Lord for the wonderful testimonies of participants on the trip!  We are so thankful for groups like this that not only come to Kenya to encourage and support our staff and the families, but return to America and act as advocates for the mission that we are called to.

Would you consider going to Kenya, or approaching your home church about getting involved with CARE for AIDS?  Learn more about Impact Trips here, or contact us here with ideas about how to engage your church!

Thank you Webb Bridge Middle School!

A couple of months ago, we told you about the incredible story of the 7th grade Social Studies classes at Webb Bridge Middle School that sold paper hearts to raise money for CARE for AIDS and wrote letters to children of CFA clients in Kenya.  Read the story from their teacher, Stephanie Immel, here.  This video of Duncan Kimani, CFA Kenya director, comes straight from the CFA office in Limuru, Kenya.  Thanks so much to everyone who was a part of this project – you did a fantastic job!

Does this make you think of ways that you could get involved or get creative?  Have something to say to Stephanie, Duncan, or the Webb Bridge 7th graders?  Let us know in the comments!  Or, see some ways you can be a part of CARE for AIDS here

Video not working?  Check it out on our new YouTube channel here