Timothy, Bwanika, Edwin, Ivan, and Fred!

There are several kids that we wish to sponsor for school starting in January. You can read about these kids below! They are street kids, who we have been working with to help transition into school and/or a home. Every kid’s story is different, but every one of these kids desperately wants to be off of the streets and into school. 

When you help sponsor a child, this child will be taken from the streets and put into a home or a boarding school. This means for the first time in a long time, they will be getting three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, and a roof over their heads. 

Sponsorship is $50 a month per child. 

We would love for you to partner with us! Whether that is through prayer, monthly giving, or a one time gift! 

You can mail donations to:

River Community Church

att. Jeremy Cook

1200 Miracle Rd

Cookeville TN 38506

The memo line needs to read: Katie Cartwright/Mallory Short

We understand that many want to give, but they can’t right now. We are also starting a fundraiser. We will be selling jewelry made by the street kids. You can start a fundraiser to help support us in your church, your school, campus ministry, or just amongst your friends. All you have to do is, e-mail Mallory Short at mshort32@gmail.com and let her know how many necklaces and bracelets you think you can sell. We will then send you the jewelry, and once you have sold the jewelry, we will give you the information about where to send the money. 

We can feel your prayers! Thank you for your love, and thank you for pouring out God’s love on to us! 

This is Timothy. He is 12 years old and has been on the streets for over a year now. He ran away because he was being abused at home by his step mom. We met Timothy when we took him to the hospital to be treated for malaria.  God has blessed us so much through his strong, quiet spirit.

This is Bwanika! He has been on the streets for 6 years. Starting next spring, Bwanika will be home schooled. He was born in Tanzania, and when his parents divorced he stayed with his dad in Tanzania. After being abused there, he left to find his mom in Uganda, only to find himself in another abusive home. He is now 13, and very behind in school, but ready and willing to learn. This kid makes us laugh like no other. He's a handful, but has the sweetest heart behind his mischievous grin. 

Here we have Edwin! Edwin will be going into P4 this year. He has also been on the streets for 6 years. He was resettled once (taken back to his home) but the home situation was still abusive and he came back to the streets. Edwin has been asking to be back in school since the day we met him, he is ready to get off the streets, and he tells us that he knows Jesus will do it. 

Ivan!! Ivan has been on the streets for 4 years. He also left an abusive home, and is very behind in school. He will be home schooled next year, trying to help him reach a class closer to kids his age in school. Ivan is an older boy, but has this innocence about him that is rare on the streets. 

This beautiful smile is Fred. Fred is 10 years old, and has been on the streets for 4 months. The first week we met him, Katie and I looked at each other and said we have to do something about this. God has just paved a way for us to do this too. Fred's dad left when he was young, and his mom died as well. He lost his only brother soon after that. His brother was taken to be sacrificed to witchcraft, given sedatives, but then they released him. When they released him, he was so drugged he got hit by a car and died. Fred went to live with his aunt, who tortured him and then kicked him out of the house.   He has been through so much already but when you are laughing and playing with Fred you can see that hope that only comes from Jesus.