This work is critical not only because the needs are very real, but also because it demonstrates Friends of Russian Orphans' sincere desire to help without condition, and to love with no expectation of return.
Appliances, vans, tools, equipment, furniture, clothes, shoes, boots, and school supplies, developmental toys and sports equipment are just some of the goods Friends of Russian Orphans has provided to the orphanages. Typically, these items are purchased in Russia to avoid logistical problems.
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Practical assistance also means improving the living conditions of children in the orphanages. Most orphanages are located in old and frequently dilapidated buildings. Crumbling walls, broken fixtures, and unsafe conditions are common. Friends of Russian Orphans provides funding to make necessary improvements and upgrade the facilities in which the orphans live. In some cases, new facilities such as playgrounds and gyms, have been constructed as well.
Reflecting back in 2009 on Friends of Russian Orphans’ assistance since 2002, one orphanage director remarked, “Friends of Russian Orphans came at just the right time, when we needed help the most.”
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