Parish hosts breakfast fund-raiser to benefit Afghan kids

BY ALICIA DORSET
Clarkston News Staff Writer
St. Daniel’s Cushing Center social was the host site of a breakfast fund-raiser on Feb. 28 to benefit ‘Kids 4 Afghan Kids?, a campaign the church has been working with for two years.
Parish members and program supporters enjoyed eggs, sausage and biscuits served by members of Boy Scouts from Troop 199 as keynote speaker Kris Nedam, national chair of the program, spoke about the progress being made overseas thanks to continued local support.
St. Daniel’s provided the breakfast, which was purchased and prepared by Carrie Giaier.
‘It’s a grass roots program with 110% of the money going to help,? Nedam said. ‘Even the board members raise money and donate their time.?
Kids 4 Afghan Kids aims to help children in Afghanistan receive necessary medical supplies and tools needed for basic education.
‘We wanted to support, it seems like a good cause,? Robin McKenzie, parish member, said.
With local donations, such as those from St. Daniel’s, renovations have been made to schools and orphanages and health clinics in the war-torn country.
‘It just seems like the children are so happy,? Sister Barbara Jean Pelak, Christian service coordinator at St. Daniel’s, said. ‘She (Nedam) did a lot of sharing about the children.?
The event, which drew an audience of about 50 people, raised $1,275 for the project.
‘The donations that people gave were really beautiful,? Pelak said.
The breakfast for the Afghan program is one of three the church holds each year, according to Ben Treichel, peace and justice coordinator for St. Daniel’s. Treichel was responsible for getting the parish involved with Kids 4 Afghan Kids.
‘The whole program runs on events like this one,? Nedam said.
Last year the church raised about $1,200 for the program.
Donations are still being accepted for the program. To find out how to contribute, contact Pelak at (248) 625-4583.