Good News from Brook of Hope Home:
Aurora Youth Soccer Club Shows Big Heart
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We are delighted to share some wonderful news from right here in our local community! ⚽
This year, the Aurora Youth Soccer Club (Aurora FC) generously donated several large bags filled with gently used soccer jerseys, many brand-new shorts, and even some new jerseys for our children at Brook of Hope Home in Kabwe.
This organization’s continued generosity has touched us deeply. They have supported us faithfully in the past, and this year they really blew us away with how much more they had to give!
Many of the donated jerseys over the years proudly display familiar Canadian sponsors, including Tim Hortons and local orthodontic clinics… and this is where the story gets especially amusing!
Trying to explain Tim Hortons to our children in Kabwe is always an adventure. Imagine describing how, here in Canada, we drive up to a little window, order coffee and donuts, and then… eat them in our cars. This alone is met with wide eyes and puzzled looks. Then comes the explanation of donuts, followed by Tim Bits, and inevitably the question: “Why is there a hole in the donut?” By the end of it, everyone is laughing, and I’m fairly certain the children are still not entirely convinced any of this makes sense!
The orthodontic sponsors lead to even more confusion. Explaining braces, dental care, and orthodontists to children who have never been to a dentist is no small task. Smiles grow wider as they listen, half-amused, half-baffled, trying to imagine people voluntarily visiting someone whose job involves teeth.
Yet beneath the laughter is something deeply meaningful. These jerseys are more than just clothing. In Zambia’s scorching sun, they wash well, dry quickly, and don’t fade easily. I have personally seen students treasure these jerseys for years, wearing them with pride long after receiving them. For our children, receiving one is a huge treat and a treasured gift that brings joy, dignity, and a sense of being remembered.
There is something especially beautiful about children in Aurora and Newmarket passing along their jerseys to children in Kabwe. These gifts are truly being put to good use, carrying stories, kindness, and connection across continents.
I (Debra) will be traveling to Zambia in mid-February and look forward to sharing photos of our children wearing these jerseys; smiling, playing, and enjoying every moment!
A Gentle Year-End Reminder: 2025 Tax Receipts
As we approach the end of the year, this is a friendly reminder that December 31st is the last opportunity for your donations to be eligible for a 2025 tax receipt.
If Brook of Hope Home has been on your heart this Christmas season, your gift no matter the size, will help us continue providing education, care, and hope to vulnerable children in Kabwe.
Ways to Donate
CanadaHelps: All donations are securely processed and tax receipts are sent immediately by email. All you need is a credit card.
Or
E-Transfer Sent to brookofhopehome@gmail.com : tax receipts will be sent before the end of the year by email from a team member.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, the greatest gift ever given, we want you to know how deeply thankful we are for you. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity are changing lives in ways that ripple far beyond what we can see.
From all of us at Brook of Hope Home, and from the children whose lives you touch every day, thank you. May your Christmas be filled with peace, joy, and the quiet assurance that your kindness truly matters.
Thank you, and may God bless you richly this Christmas
With sincere thanks,
Debra DiPaola
President, Brook of Hope Home
On behalf of the BHH team
