{
SAVING THE WORLD ONE ISSUE AT A TIME
}
written by gretta parkinson
photographed by jocelynelise.com
CAMBODIA
philanthropy has always been fashionable. And these days, with the other things, for orphans and widows. Christa was struck by their
rapid growth of technology resulting in a rapidly “shrinking” world, we’re efficiency and ease in communication and says she knew she could
more aware than ever before of people in remote countries we’ve never feel comfortable supporting and recommending Warm Blankets to her
seen—sometimes never previously heard of—who need our help. Thanks friends and family.
to 24-hour news outlets and the ever-expanding World Wide Web, “I found…dependable leadership and, more importantly, individuals
it’s never been easier to visualize—and assist—people in war-ravaged, who cherished the Cambodian culture and knew how to get things done
disease-ridden countries who need a hot meal, a warm blanket, and a without trampling it,” she says.
safe home. Through generous donations and good old-fashioned hard work, the
More than 30 years ago, the Khmer Rouge Guerilla Movement, led by dedicated people at Christa-Taylor.com and Warm Blankets hope to see
Cambodian Prime Minister Pol Pot, sought to reconstruct the country every child warm and full, and every orphan home on the road to self-
based on the structure of Mao’s China: a communist regime. The result sustenance. And they won’t stop there.
was mass genocide. The Khmer Rouge forced all the men, women and “We hope to eventually pass the monthly support to other businesses
children to leave their homes for forced labor camps. Any who refused and support the larger, more aggressive projects,” Christa says.
were killed on the spot. Religion and music were banned; factories, More aggressive projects include repairing damaged orphan homes
schools, and hospitals were shut down. Operating under the slogan and funding the construction of women’s housing to keep factory workers
“To spare you is no profit; to destroy you is no loss,” the Khmer Rouge out of sex trafficking.
murdered more than two million civilians. When you shop at Christa-Taylor.com 5% of your purchase is donated
The effects of the deadly regime are still prevalent throughout to an orphanage in Ta Lam. To help even more, you can spread the
Cambodia. There remain up to 6 million active land mines. Mass graves word about the mission of Warm Blankets. In the shadow of a looming
and “killing fields” were uncovered as recently as 1995. Today, because economic recession, Warm Blankets donations are down 50% from
of the ravages of war, impoverishment, and illness, 90,000 women and previous years. Your gift to Warm Blankets could, among other things,
children have been left widowed and orphaned. help pay the volunteer staff, whose only compensation comes from
When Christa Taylor, co-owner and creator of Christa-Taylor.com, monthly donations.
visited Cambodia three years ago, she couldn’t ignore the devastation— It takes such little effort to make a big difference. A tiny sacrifice on
the rural roads were dusty and treacherous. But when they reached this side of the globe can result in huge changes across oceans and
the orphan home, Christa was struck by what she described as a “stark continents for people in desperate need.
contrast” between the village children and the orphans. “The small things—one less trip to the coffee shop, passing on the nail
“I thought to myself, ‘Surely these can’t be the orphan kids,’ ” Christa manicure for a month, having a date at home,” Christa says, “all go a long
says. “They were all smiles!” way toward keeping little children on the opposite side of the globe full,
Christa was impressed to find that the orphanages were modeled warm, and hopeful.”
after families, with father and mother figures overseeing the home while
the widows tended children.
“No wonder they’re so happy,” she says. “They don’t see themselves
as orphans, either!”
Since then, Christa-Taylor.com has partnered with Warm Blankets
Orphan Care, a missions group that provides food and shelter, among
ELIZA / 76 ELIZA / 77
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