Spread Sunshine Updates

by Danielle Kuznetsov

Dear Spread Sunshine Fans! I cannot tell you how much I miss you all. I miss seeing you and enjoying your company at our morning coffee mornings. And I miss the energy from our efforts in giving and serving others. I never thought we would be so good at it together. This was an unexpected gift. I have been loosely keeping tabs on our charities. I want to share the updates they sent with us. SAMU: From January to April 2020, we saw an increase in the homeless population seeking assistance. We recorded 1861 requests by 825 people who received direct care from our providers. During the Corona pandemic, we put all of our focus on medical assistance-check-ups, consultations, distribution of medicines and shots, and passing out hygienic kits and socks for immediate use. We also passed out masks and gloves, antiseptic, and shared general practices to avoid infection. Most recently, we have been able to provide testing for HIV, Hepatitis C and B, Syphillis, and TB. We give haircuts to both the male and female populations. For the undocumented women, we organize gynecological appointments and tests. We also are passing out medications and hygiene items to shelters. Needs: Socks, Underwear, vitamins, wipes, shampoo and body soap, and shaving cream and razors.

Otkazniki: The Sad News: The pandemic has put a strain on our foster families and the centers that house orphans. Many have been stranded in places under the quarantine. We have many more people reaching out for support with basic food needs that before the epidemic were able to meet these needs for their families. The GOOD News: We have NOT experienced a drop in our donations as of yet. Maybe this will happen in the summer time, but so far our donations have been stable. Because of the pandemic, some very big NGO funds have donated monies to us. There have been an addition of grants to which we have furiously applied for. We have received donations from the Timchenko and Ribakova funds. We also received 78 laptops to pass out to our families so that the children could do their schoolwork online. There has been a huge step forward in the legislation during this time which was MIRACULOUSLY passed to give tax breaks to companies that donate and support charity work. This is a MONUMENTOUS occasion that was once thought impossible. We are hopeful that this will usher in the next phase of volunteering and donations in Russia making it possible to serve more people. Here is a link in Russian that speaks to this: https://www.asi.org.ru/article/2020/05/25/elena-topolevagospodderzhka-nko-nalogi-strahovie-vznosi-nalolvii-vichet/ In our fund, we have been grateful that some of our volunteers have taken children from the orphanage home with them during this time. Here is a link in Russian to that experience: https://otkazniki.ru/events/ histories/na-vremya-navsegda-kak-volontery-zabirayut-detey-vkarantin/

Finally, we opened a free hotline for those experiencing trauma and anxiety. In the past two months we have documented more than 700 calls. **In March AWO raised funds for Misha, a deaf orphan needing surgery for a Coclear implant to be able to hear in order to qualify for adoption. We have not yet delivered those funds but Anna reported that the therapeutic process has started in preparation for this operation. I will keep you posted. Finally, AWO will be purchasing groceries for distribution to the needy through Father Michael’s ministry on the outskirts of Moscow. At this time, we are working on logistics of delivery and disbursement. I am humbled by the fact that our relatively small organization has made an impact in our local community. If anyone would like to give personally to these causes during this time, please reach out to me at kuznetsov.danielle@gmail.com