Bethel Orphanage director Anna Franklin speaks at the Rotary fundraiser at Rainmakers Resort and Club.
The Rotary Club of Ruidoso hosted a special fundraiser on May 30 at Rainmakers Resort and Club to benefit Bethel Orphanage in Juarez, Mexico. The facility serves children who have been the victims of abuse, neglect, and other different situations.
The club has supported the orphanage for more than 30 years and dinner and silent auction raised more than $8,000 to help address some pressing needs that the orphanage has experienced.
Through the years, the club has donated heaters, paid the orphanage’s monthly gas bill, sent supplies, and offered other forms of support. Orphanage director Franklin recently spoke to Ruidoso Rotarians about the orphanage and how their efforts have made a difference for children who faced so many hardships.
“When police bring these kids (to the orphanage), they have nothing, just the clothes on their backs,” Franklin said at the Rotary meeting. “I want them to feel like this is their home, not just an orphanage or foster home they’re just passing through. They’re safe, they know they’re loved, and have a future. We get to speak life into these kids.”
Along with Rotarians, other members of the community as well as Rotarians from surrounding clubs attended. Franklin and representatives from the orphanage were also in attendance.
Rotary service chairwoman Katie Kmetz said the club decided to become even more involved after some recent changes that affected the orphanage. The funds met some of those needs and more.
“We learned of a need that the orphanage had for school uniforms for their children as they just changed schools recently,” Kmetz said. “It was a picturesque setting at Rainmakers with the band performing on the patio for a fun, fresh shaker-and-mover crowd.
“Anna and her mom both cried when I told them how much money the event had raised. They said in addition to the uniforms they were going to purchase a lot of food, namely protein for the children. Sometimes there are months that go by that the only protein the kids have is beans.”
Kmetz was thrilled at how the event turned out after months of planning and that Rotairians and others could come together for a worthy cause.
“It was truly a wonderful and magical event,” she said. “We are thankful for everyone who attended and everyone who provided auction items. We are also grateful for people that made cash donations.”