The Gambles feel privileged to help orphanage

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Editor's note
Candice Mac Lean

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The Gambles show children at the Providence Orphange the 'KV Style' cover story that featured the family before they travelled to the African orphanage.

The Gambles were featured on KV Style’s cover story last month and an article in this issue chronicles their recent journey to Benin, the country where The Providence Orphanage is located (page 8).

Judy Gamble, whose husband Gary and children Michelle and Ben travelled with her, says seeing the orphanage for the first time was life changing.

“It was amazing to walk into the orphanage and the kids were all waiting to lay their eyes on us,” says the Kingston Peninsula woman, who first saw photos of the orphans two years ago and says she knew she had to help.

The contributions started with a donation at Christmastime and evolved into the Gambles sending $300 Canadian to the orphanage each month. They are the only consistent financial supporter the orphanage has.

Beyond the monthly donation, the family saves any extra money for large special projects. The first, a $10,000 cement enclosure, was finished earlier this year. Now the family is setting out to raise about $75,000 for the second priority project – a new dormitory for the children.

When Judy speaks about the financial contribution her family is making she says she sees the remarkable commitment as an honour.

“I feel privileged we’re able to help these people out.”

The money comes from fundraisers, collections at their church and from a network of donors, but Judy admits that some funding has come straight from the family’s pockets.

Inside their home, Judy has framed collages on almost every wall with photos of her children but also the orphanage children who she calls loving, affectionate and appreciative of their help.

Before she left for Africa, Judy says she was terrified. Now, the Gambles hope to visit Benin every year and continue to spread the word about their family project.

For more information about the orphanage, visit www.beninorphanage.com. To donate money to the project, contact the Gamble family through the website.

Candice Mac Lean is the editor of KV Style. Reach her at maclean.candice@kvstyle.com.