MACHIAS, Maine — A connection between children in an orphanage in Cambodia and children whose parents use food pantries in Washington County may seem unlikely, but this holiday season there is such a link.
Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith, 55, and his wife, Lynne, a nurse at the Regional Medical Center at Lubec, for the second year have donated stuffed animals to an orphanage in Cambodia.
This year, in addition to helping Cambodian children, they also donated stuffed animals to area food pantries because they want some Washington County youngsters to have something to cuddle and keep this holiday season, as well.
The Smiths became interested in the Cambodian orphanage through friend Ron King, who recently retired from the Regional Medical Center at Lubec. Lynne Smith worked for King.
Last year, King was headed to Cambodia to do volunteer work, and the Smiths became interested in his venture. They learned more about the orphanage through Partners in Compassion Cambodia.
According to the group’s Web site, Partners in Compassion Cambodia seeks “to assist the Cambodian people in raising the standards of life for the most vulnerable groups in its society. Its members include Buddhist Monks and Persons of various Religious backgrounds.”
The group “provides education, financial assistance, food supplement, medicine, medical care and spiritual guidance as is required,” the site states.
After learning more about the needs of the children in the orphanage, the Smiths collected so many stuffed animals they were able to give one to each of the 60 children in the orphanage and sent them in time to be delivered by Christmas. They paid for the postage themselves. The sheriff coined the slogan “Cops for Kids” for the project.
While collecting stuffed animals, Smith put the word out through the media that animals were needed and the couple was inundated.
“It almost grew its own sense of legs,” Sheriff Smith said of the venture.
The Smiths could have stockpiled the stuffed animals until next year, but decided that, given the tough economic times in Washington County, a stuffed toy could make a difference for a youngster who otherwise might have a very slim Christmas.
That is when the Smiths decided to donate some of the stuffed toys to area food pantries.
The sheriff’s first lesson in the needs of children in orphanages came when he was in the military and stationed in places such as Vietnam and Japan. He was 19 years old.
“I went to two or three orphanages, and I remembered the response those kids had, and sometimes we had as little as candy bars to give the children. They were ecstatic to get anything. But it more or less is the human contact,” he said. “In a few cases some of us did bring stuffed animals or toys, and stuffed animals is something material that they can hold onto.”
The visits left a deep impression on Smith.
“This is small potatoes,” he said, “to give some kid a Christmas gift over there that has very little hope or any future. …” His voice trailed off.
Partners in Compassion Cambodia’s Web site is partnersincompassioncambodia.com.