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Show zsr Aug. 5, 1993 Family learns donations make a big difference 15 Money: a little goes a long way MSgt. Bill Farrington visits Andrea, a girl to Hill NCO sees firsthand the benefits of his family's aid to an underprivileged child. X y v . by Jay Joersz Hilltop Times staff After seeing a television ad for one of the many and underrelief funds helping poverty-stricke- n nourished children around the world, a skeptical thought or two probably enters the mind of most Hilltop Times . 'f, '' - JV "TX c whom his family sends money each month, in her tiny home in Ecuador. Below, the Farringtons enjoy a family moment together at home. The drawing, bottom, was done by Andrea at the school she is able to attend because of the money the Farringtons send to her. people. Although MSgt. Bill Farrington and his family had been giving money to one of the funds for nearly two years, he still had the occasional skepticism whether his money was actually doing any good and whether it was going to the proper places. He recently got his answer and much more when he met the beneficiary of his generosity face to face. The rendezvous in a small village outside the city limits of Quito, Ecuador, was feasible due to a temporary duty assignment for Coronet Mustang in Ecuador with Hill AFB's 388th Fighter Wing in May. Farrington and his fa mily send $14 per month to a now girl, Andrea. She is one of three children in a destitute family living near You top of the mountains realize how bad the close to Quito. The 66 just don't Far-ringto- it can be until you see it first- receive periodic update letters from the little girl and her mother through social workers was hand. with the relief fund. shocking. They followed the little girl's progress and were happy they were able to help, but they didn't realize how much help Bill Farrington MSgt. 388th Fighter Wing thev really were until Bill visited the family. "You just don't realize how bad it can be until you see it firsthand," he said. "It was shocking. I felt guilty staying in a hotel room twice the size of their whole house." The combat planner in the 388th Logistics Support Squadron took a day of leave in conjunction with the TDY to visit the family. The Air Force sergeant visited, bearing a broad smile, gifts of clothes for alL and books written in Spanish for Andrea. Farrington said there were thousands and thousands of impoverished families and children living on the mountainside. He said they are basically squatters on government land. It 99 Working for $20 a month Andrea's father is a woodworker who makes furniture. He spends around two days dragging his furniture down the mountainside to Quito and sells the fruits of his labor for a meager $20 per month. Andrea and her family live in a makeshift wooden home around about the size of most people's kitchens 8 feet by 10 feet. Farrington said the only sign of modern civilization is the bare and he emphasized bare electric wire that feeds into the shack to run a solitary light bulb. The furniture consists of a table, four chairs, two beds and a chest of drawers. The only source of water is a big barrel of dirty rain water. Food is cooked, thanks to social workers, on stove similar to a small camping a propane-fuele- d stove. "It makes you want to do more if you could,"won-he said. "But I admit I was just a little cynical, dering if the money was doing any good. It was a relief to see it does go to where they say it does and that it is definitely doing some good." He was given a brief tour by the social workers in the area of some of the improvements, including a schoolhouse (a converted barn), available medical - L"- rT - . . - r - v. H - supplies for the outhouses and the residents did the work. --A 4LA J:Ja1 4,-- . Jo-len- e, "t ' "The social workers try to get them to do as much as possible. They're just trying to teach them to take care of themselves," he said. "If you do the work for them, they don't learn anything." Farrington said his family got into the sponsoring relationship through one of his four children, 10. He explained that after she saw an ad on television she asked if they could help. "After checking into it and hearing about little Andrea, we decided to do it," Sandy Farrington said. "We just felt it was something worthwhile." It seems when Farrington and his family see someone in need, they have an overpowering urge to help. Sandy said they have lived overseas for 13 of Bill's Air Force career and have become concerned with international activities. ti 19-ye- ar Broadening horizons "We're interested in helping out with problems in the world," she said. "We want to make things happen rather than sit around and complain about things. Our children are also interested in what's happening overseas and we're encouraging them to" help with what they can." The children are responding. In addition to Jo-lene's idea to help Andrea, the family is also present- received just that foreign exchange student During the brief visit, Farrington was shocked at ly hosting a This time from France. it was Jennifer, 12. Their the way of life on the mountainside a are children to of doctor other James, 8, and John, 2. "They have no concept why you go of sanitano their But before you are sick and generosity does not end there. understanding are "We had to force almost he workers said. "Social seriously considering helping out Antion," drea's little no have brother, Christian," Mrs. Fartoilets build to the them (outhouses). They idea why they need to brush their teeth. It is natural rington said. "If he doesn't get a sponsor soon, I for the people there to die around 45 to 50 years old." think we'll sponsor him as well. Once Bill retires we He added that the improvements to the way of life would also like to get even more involved in the pro. Well probably take space availabrought on by the social workers and the program gram, hands-onare not simply completed for the residents. They are ble flights to Panama and then fly to Quito to help done by the residents. The program purchased the however we can." treatment (both a doctor and a dentist), a library and outhouses. Farrington said Andrea's family is poorly educated; in fact, she is the first one in the family to go to a school. Additionally, when the Farringtons decided to sponsor Andrea, t hey were told she was infected with intestinal maggots and needed medical attention. Through the sponsorship, she ld |