This press release was sent out to several news organizations today, thanks to Ruth van Tilburg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, BONAIRE, DECEMBER 22, 2005

"Kwida di Kwidadornan"
"TAKING CARE OF THE CARE-TAKERS"

Members of the "Bonaire Talk Community," have raised money from private donors from as far away as California to England, to "take care of the care-takers" at the Zuster Maria Hoppner House. These donors are visitors to Bonaire who participate on the Bonaire Talk Newsgroup website. They love Bonaire and its people very much.

The funds donated were used to create gift bags full of holiday favorites, such as chocolates, a Christmas ham, and fancy mixed nuts. Local donations were also contributed, such as: Wine from Alcon, Champagne from The Island Supplier, Spa Products from Bonaire Gift, Ponche Caribe from Tropical Flamingo, and a gift certificate/kado bon from Kentucky for a 15 piece bucket of chicken.

Some BTers (a nick-name/nomber di karino for the people who "talk" on the Bonaire Talk Newsgroup page) who are here on vacation now, and Ruth from Kentucky (KFC), will present the gift bags to the hard-working staff of the Zuster Maria Hoppner House Thursday, December 22nd, at 5pm.

Bonaire Talk Community, Inc. (BTCI), is a non-profit company in the U.S.
Funds generated by BTCI, which also operates the Bonaire Talk website, support many different Bonairean charities year-round. This website is a way for people to communicate with each other about Bonaire, and is also source of information for many different topics of interest about Bonaire.
Its address is: www.bonairetalk.com.

The BTers who donated this money, and local donors, in the spirit of the holiday season, felt that it was important to recognize people like these care-takers, who are often so busy caring for others, that they are overlooked when the gift-giving season comes around.



BTCI would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project. Special thanks go out to Mare Wills, Seb Schulherr, and Ruth van Tilburg who without their efforts, would not have made these baskets so full of wonderful goodies! Ruth, BTCI, Inc. would also like to extend a HUGE thank you to you for pounding the pavement and getting the contributions of Wine from Alcon, Champagne from The Island Supplier, Spa Products from Bonaire Gift, Ponche Caribe from Tropical Flamingo, along with the KFC donation. We can't wait to see more pics, and hear how it all went!

BT'ers, you all are the BEST EVER! Merry Christmas everyone!


(Message edited by cyndelee on December 22, 2005)

awesome :-)

Thanks Cyndee

Great article! Good for BT!

Well that certainly made me tear all up... I'm so happy to have been a part of this !! And you kind of even used my saying, who cares for the caregiver??? I'm just all verklempt right now.

Good job everyone. And special thanks to Mary, Seb, and Ruth. Our BT angels.

Kelly, your saying was exactly what inspired my writing, now you can see it in Papiamento: "Kwida di Kwidadornan." Thanks to all the BTers who inspired the entire mission-I was happy to help (hey, I do get to live here full-time, and that pix is from my back porch...)
;-)

There's nothing quite like that Santa feeling. Bon Pasku i Felis Ana Nobo!

Yippeee!!
Thank you for the update, the picture and especially the Papiamento lesson.
Can you translate Bon Paski
I'm assuming that i Felis Ana Nobo = and Happy New Year

I absolutely love the lessons!!!!
Thank you!

Ruth, I am just so thrilled this all worked out ! It just makes my day. And my Christmas.

Anyone who has anything to do with the Hopper house knows how well deserved these gifts are. Those folks put their heart and soul into caring for those boys and sometimes it is a thankless job! We need more "Patty's" in the world for SURE. And we would use a few more Ruths while we're at it.

Cudos to all of you who participated in this project. I've enjoyed reading about what you've done, and I'm sure the final presentation made the staff feel appreciated and cared for. I had already committed to several projects here, and felt bad that I did not participate in this, but I still wanted to say "Good Job, All".

I hope Santa is good to you all.

Gail, in the end, it is all from BTCI On the card, we put that it was from the Bonaire Talk Community, along with Ruth, and the other businesses that donated. It was a gift of love from ALL OF US

We know that not everyone can contribute to these projects, and that's perfectly OK, if a cash donation is not given, we know you give a donation of love and hugs

OH, Seb called me last night from Bonaire to let me know that all went well. Jan (Ruth's husband) was going to take some more pictures (if I understood Seb correctly). I know that it will bring great Christmas joy to the staff members when they open the bags and see all of the goodies. Job well done gang!

Actually, Hans, one of the Hoppner care-takers, was to take pix when the gift bags were presented to the staff, and Astrid, the home's director, is to e them to us. I hope they have the time to do it this year, but, I'm sure we can all understand how busy everybody is, especially since they were getting the boys ready to go to their "weekend" families for the next 10 days...

The staff & children were having their Christmas dinner party after we delivered the gift bags (which were hidden from the staff)--the children were told they weren't getting their presents until after dinner, so I'm assuming that's when the staff would be getting theirs too (only Astrid & Patty knew about the staff's gifts). Would've loved to have been a fly on the wall!

Bon Pasku = Merry Christmas
i = and
Felis Ana Nobo = Happy New Year (the "n" in Ana is supposed to have one of those squiggly marks above it)

You guys have me crying those Christmas tears! Job well done!!!!!!!

btw what is Ponche Caribe??

Denise, I think it's a rum brandy liqueur...sounds delish!

Ruth, thanks. I thought Seb said Jan was going to take pics, but I guess it's Hans...lol! Even if they don't email pics, that's fine...just knowing that they will be enjoying their goodies over the next few days is wonderful

Ponche Caribe I'm gonna have to try some of that next time!

You BTers are just Great People, I certainly have plenty of Love & Hugs spare

God bless you all