SHARE (Shaping Hearts - A Relief Effort)
SHARE (Shaping Hearts - A Relief Effort)
Project Managers: Frank and Ruth Martin
The Martin family has been actively involved in humanitarian activities for three decades, the majority of this time in the Indian sub-continent, where they have spearheaded a number of programs in various cities and countries. Their present undertakings include:
- Providing permanent housing in Kovalam for those who lost homes due to the Tsunami.
- Assisting two orphanages and a home for aged, including a building project, and also providing food, clothing, educational classes, events and outings.
- Working in the pediatric ward of the main Cancer Hospital of the city, doing workshops with the children: arts and crafts, music therapy, and educational games.
- Providing support and counseling for women recovering from breast cancer.
- Having helped found Voice of the Deaf in Chennai, the Martins remain active in activities focusing on the needs of the deaf community in southern India.
Chennai, India
Frank, a spirited speaker, addresses an audience in Chennai.
Venkatesh, with a hand-peddled bike which we provided for him.
Six months ago, in the aftermath of the tsunami, upon witnessing the unprecedented physical devastation, suffering and human grief here in our area, I (Frank) wrote the following comment in my first Tsunami Report to Family Care Foundation, describing my encounter with a dear Indian man I came in contact with:
The Martin family has been actively involved in humanitarian work in the Indian sub-continent for the last three decades. Through coordinating sponsorship from abroad and directing it on a local level, they have been able to provide grassroots relief efforts. They share two recent examples with us:
"You helped us when the tsunami ravaged us. We have come to return the favor."