Updates to Our Sponsorship Program
We're so thankful for all your love and support for each of our houses, and we want to update you on our Sponsorship program. In the past, we matched individual sponsors with individual kids, but that's no longer how the program is structured. The Guatemalan government has placed a higher priority on reuniting kids with some member of their biological families, so we aren't seeing as many kids spending years at Casa Bernabé like we once did.
With the increase in transition for the kids, it makes more sense to pair sponsors with an entire house so you can build a relationship with the house parents and be an encouragement and a resource for all the kids in the house. Every child receives the same standard of care at Casa Bernabé, regardless of whether they had a sponsor in the past, but the kids did know if they didn't have a personal sponsor, and this new structure avoids any inequality between kids.
Caring for around 100 kids is a lot of work, and it requires a consistent funding source so we can stick to a careful budget and steward our resources well. Our staff does an amazing job making every dollar go far in Guatemala. Counting food, salaries for house parents and helpers, transportation, utilities, maintenance, and miscellaneous expenses, we're able to run each house for $3,440 per month. We receive local in kind donations that cover much of our toiletries, cleaning supplies, and clothing needs.
We've broken down the $3440 monthly per house budget into 13 segments: one overall House Sponsor at $2000/month and 12 Child & Family Sponsors at $120/month.
If we can find those 13 sponsors for each of our eight houses, the monthly care of all the kids will be fully funded, and we will be able to count on that regular support as we budget for the future.
Child & Family Sponsors will receive a prayer card in the mail with a photo of the whole house, as well as a list of all the kids' birthdays so you can pray for them by name. You'll also receive additional communication about your specific house as changes or needs arise.
Consistent, recurring monthly support is the most helpful way to support Casa Bernabé. Will you consider becoming a Sponsor of one of our homes? You can read about each of the eight families HERE, and we'll be providing updates on their sponsorship progress over the coming weeks. Thank you for your support of Casa Bernabé!