Baskets of Hope
EASTER is a significant religious holiday in Russia. This special season provides a unique opportunity to share the Gospel message of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with an amazingly receptive audience. During the Easter season, SOAR delivers hundreds of gift filled Baskets of Hope and Bibles to at risk children throughout Russia.
SOAR's Baskets of Hope project began shortly after the 2004 Beslan school massacre when armed Chechen soldiers took 1200 school children and adults hostage. On the 3rd day a chaotic gun battle resulted in 300 deaths and 700 serious injuries. Sadly, half of those killed that day were children.
As the 2005 Easter season approached, a local church invited Richard Page, the director of SOAR, to Beslan to minister to families who survived this unbelievable terrorist shooting. Many of those experiencing deep despair received the gentleness of God's love through Dick's compassion, the Gospel message and a simple gift- an Easter basket. God's love rekindled HOPE in many hearts and ignited the Baskets of Hope project.
Why Hope is Needed
THROUGHOUT the country of Russia millions of children have stories of personal tragedies. Stories that would break your heart. Many of these children live under the streets, huddling near city heat pipes to stay warm in winter. Others live in orphanages, hospitals, prisons, handicap institutions, and AIDS shelters. Many of these little ones have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. SOAR seeks to bring the love of Christ and true HOPE to these broken lives through the Baskets of Hope project.
2011 Baskets of Hope trip report
Sponsor a Basket of gifts and a Bible for a Russian child by donating securely online!
Click here to sponsor a Basket and submit your letter online! Each Basket costs $35.00 (USD) and each Bible costs $5.00 (USD). Fill in your total gift amount in the "other" box and make a note in the comments section whether you are giving towards Baskets, Bibles, and/or Project....orall the above! We accept donations towards our Baskets of Hope project all year long!Click here to go to our donate page if you just want to donate towards the project
Your basket will be filled with items purchased in Russia. Your $35.00 (USD)will fill and deliver a basket, and $5.00(USD) a Russian children's Bible. You can also add a personal touch by writing a letter to an orphan including your name, address and a picture. Your letter will be placed in the front pocket of your basket along with a clear explanation in Russian of the Gospel message. You will receive a picture of a child who received a basket along with a personal thank you.
1. By Mail
Use one of our Baskets of Hope brochure tear off forms or download the Sponsor form and the letter form and mail along with a picture of yourself or family and check payable to SOAR International Ministries:
SOAR International Ministries
135 Granite Point Court
Kenai, Alaska 99611
2. On-line
- Click here to download the letter form and save it to your desktop. Print it, fill it out and scan it or mail it to us (improvements to this process coming!)
- Send an email with the above letter (if able) and a picture to baskets@soarinternational.org
-You can make a one time or recurring donation using your credit card or checking account through SOAR's secure website. All donations are tax-deductable
3. By Phone - Call us anytime with questions!
1-907-283-1961
1-888-388-SOAR (7627)
Are you a CHURCH or SCHOOL interested in SPONSORSHIP? Click here!
JOIN US on our next Baskets of Hope trip- April 2012
Experience first hand the excitement and joy of making the difference in a child's life for eternity. Join our Baskets of Hope distribution team and give Bibles and gifts to needy children in shelters, orphanages, group homes and on the streets. It will be the trip of a lifetime for you! Contact us no later than March 1 by calling our SOAR office at 1-907-283-1961 or toll free at 1-888-388-SOAR (7627), or email baskets@soarinternational.org
Cost of April, 2012 trip: $3500 (includes the flight from the US to Moscow, Russia and in-country expenses; does not include personal souvenirs, etc.)
SOAR Baskets of Hope Application Checklist
By March 1, 2012
Complete the following paperwork and mail to SOAR
1. SOAR Application and additional application documents found under FORMS on this web site and your initial deposit of $250.00.
2. Passport
(If you do not yet have a passport, apply for one immediately and send it to SOAR when you receive it. If it is close to our deadline dates, please call SOAR for methods to expedite this process.)
3. Visa Invitation request and Visa Application forms.
By March 1, 2012
By this date, 50% of your trip cost is due to SOAR. (Total due $1750; this includes $250 deposit)
By April 1, 2012
By this date, full payment of your trip is due to SOAR. If others are helping you fund this trip, be sure to give them these funding cut off dates. In order to go on the trip your money must be received at SOAR according to this schedule.
If paperwork is not received by March 1st, an additional $200 fee will be needed for late processing. This will help cover the cost of express postage, added processing fees and special handling to expedite the paperwork.
Pray - Make a difference
- That God will provide people to go on the Baskets of Hope trip in April
- That He will provide funding for those who wish to go on the trip
- That hearts in Russia will be prepared to hear the gospel
- For our partners at Russia Inland (in Moscow) as they contact orphanages and shelters for us to visit
- That many baskets will be sponsored so that we can reach many children with the Gospel and these special gifts
1-888-388-7627
