wfn.org | Thousands Of Dollars In Supplies Donated For Kosovo

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

August 13, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Thousands Of Dollars In Supplies Donated 
For ADRA'S Kosovar Shipment From Pathfinder Camporee

Oshkosh, Wisconsin/APD  Thousands of dollars in school supplies, 
food, toys, clothing and hygiene items are being packed at the 
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International 
Pack-A-Box activity at the Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, 
running August 10-13. Several humanitarian organizations and 
well-known companies donated the supplies that ADRA plans to 
deliver to Kosovar children and families in several weeks.

Pack-A-Box is one of several activities ADRA set up for tens of 
thousands of Pathfinder campers who visit ADRA's Adventure Land 
at the camporee. ADRA is the major sponsor for the camporee.

World Care, a non-profit organization based in Tucson, Arizona, 
donated US$30,000 of supplies, including 5,000 deluxe ProYo's 
and 3,000 packs of paper. World Care was founded in 1994 by 
Lisa Hopper, who says of the shipment, "The yo-yos are a 
universal toy and fit easily into the boxes of supplies being packed 
at ADRA's Adventure Land in Oshkosh. While the Kosovar children 
will continue to get basic supplies in the coming months, many of 
them don't have anything to play with. The yo-yos will also 
improve their manual dexterity."

World Care has recently shipped more than 80,000 pounds of 
clothing, hygiene items, blankets, food, teddy bears and other 
supplies through ADRA International in an effort to support their 
continued efforts in Kosovo and other countries.

At least 5,000 interactive childrens books were donated through 
the Brothers Brother Foundation (BBF). The "pop-up" book series 
came from Simon & Schuster at the request of the author, Richard 
Scarry. According to Tori Wolan, program director for BBF, Simon 
& Schuster has been a long-time donor of new books to BBF. The 
Scarry books, which have a wholesale value of more than 
US$31,000, were given to BBF due to the foundation's history of 
success in distributing donated books worldwide, as well as their 
efforts to provide resources to Kosovar refugees.

"We're glad to be able to provide such resources to the Kovosar 
refugee children who no longer possess such childhood pleasures 
as books," she says. BBF is a humanitarian organization based in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bob Kitchen, ADRA logistician in Pristina, agrees saying, "The 
books provide numerous 
interactive pictures and activities. The parents will probably 
appreciate the books just as much as their children, since many of 
them are trying to learn English along with their children."

More than 4,000 food packages were supplied by the Kellogg's 
company for the Pack-A-Box activities. Included in the package 
was a cereal snack, cereal bar, juice and toy. 

A dentist from Appleton, Wisconsin, Paul Conner, D.D.S., and 
several of his dental supply 
companies, Butler Dental Company and Patterson Dental Supply, 
donated five boxes of toothbrushes for the campers to include in 
the boxes. "I've been on dental trips overseas before and have 
seen the great need for dental supplies," Dr. Conner says. "I think 
it's terrific that we can help."

Other donations include five boxes of coats from the London Fog 
clothing company, art supplies purchased by ADRA for its 
Pathfinder art contest, hundreds of quilts handmade by Pathfinder 
groups and their leaders, and several loads of clothing donated by 
community members in the Fox Valley.

"The Pack-A-Box activity is one area where we see a lot of 
creativity displayed," says Jim 
Lanning, ADRA director for material acquisitions. "The Pathfinders 
put together school kits that include copy books, pencils, pens, 
markers, scissors and erasers. Some are even personalizing the 
boxes they pack by drawing pictures, writing personal messages of 
hope and encouragement and putting in pieces of candy and gum. 
We're pleased with the time the Pathfinders are volunteering for 
these needy people in Kosovo."

ADRA, established in 1956, is a non-profit organization created 
with the specific purpose of 
individual and community development, and disaster relief. With a 
presence in more than 120 countries around the world, ADRA 
helps people of all ages without regard to ethnic, political or 
religious association.