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Boutique lets you shop for goodies, help Balkan kids
San Ramon Valley Times, CA
Nov 13 2004
CANDY CANE BOUTIQUE TODAY. It's never too early to shop for the
holidays ... so, while you're out and about today, stop by the
Creekside Community Church in Alamo and stock up on collectibles,
gift baskets, dolls, toys, jewelry and more.
You'll find lots of wonderful items at the Candy Cane Boutique and
leave knowing that you've also helped the people in the Balkans.
Baked goods will also be available for purchase along with raffle
prizes. I spoke with Dee Thompson, who explained that the boutique
will benefit the Macedonian Outreach, a nonprofit Christian charitable
organization to help the children of the Balkans.
Vula and Haig Rushdoony head up the Macedonian Outreach. They started
it 15 years ago after their children were grown and they were ready
to retire. The Rushdoonys live on the Alamo and Danville border and
run the program out of their home, stocking up on supplies to send
to the children of Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece and Macedonia. They
have family, and other personal ties, in Greece.
I spoke with Vula, who came to America from Greece at the age of 16.
She recalls what it was like to be cold and hungry.
"My father was killed in the war when I was 5 and my mother had no
income. We barely survived," Vula said. "However, there were days when
we had a slice of raisin bread and a cup of hot chocolate provided
to us through the Marshall Plan the United States set up after World
War II," Vula said.
She explained that the civil war continued in Greece, and America
continued to help the Greek people. She sent her mother money and
finally sent for her seven years later to join her in America.
Haig's family survived the massacre of Armenia at the turn of the
century and fled to America, where Haig was born.
When the Rushdoonys retired, they decided to reach out and help,
just as America had helped their countries.
"We felt that America had done so much for us and Haig and I wanted
to give back some of the blessing this country had given us," Vula
told me. "The greatest thing for Haig and me is freedom. When I hear
people talk against this country I become a lioness. I earned the
right to be an American. We are lucky to live here."
She said the Outreach has been highly successful, and that people
from all over the community participate in gathering supplies for
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and the former Yugoslavian states
of Bosnia, Croatia, the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and
Serbia-Montenegro. Vula and Haig travel each year, along with other
volunteers, to deliver the much-needed goods to the Balkan Peninsula.
When they began this mission, Vula decided to sell some of her china
and jewelry, and urged friends and neighbors to do the same. Thus
the Candy Cane Boutique was born.
Each year the boutique offers lots of interesting "vintage" items,
as well as numerous new gifts for the holidays. Vula said the gift
baskets and baked goods are "over the top" fabulous.
The boutique is located at 1350 Danville Blvd., and runs from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Dee told me that the boutique is a success because of the
generosity of the community and efforts of the volunteers.
Since 1992, the Macedonian Outreach has also brought more than 50
children with life-threatening medical problems to the United States
or Europe for treatment. The organization also provides food, clothing,
monetary aid and spiritual guidance.
Vula explained that although the unemployment rate is high, and people
are cold and hungry, she has been told time and again that they would
rather be in this condition because it means they are free.
For more information about the Macedonian Outreach, visit their
Web site at www.macedonianoutreach.com or call Vula and Haig at
925-820-4107. See you at the boutique.
Have a great week!
San Ramon Valley Times, CA
Nov 13 2004
CANDY CANE BOUTIQUE TODAY. It's never too early to shop for the
holidays ... so, while you're out and about today, stop by the
Creekside Community Church in Alamo and stock up on collectibles,
gift baskets, dolls, toys, jewelry and more.
You'll find lots of wonderful items at the Candy Cane Boutique and
leave knowing that you've also helped the people in the Balkans.
Baked goods will also be available for purchase along with raffle
prizes. I spoke with Dee Thompson, who explained that the boutique
will benefit the Macedonian Outreach, a nonprofit Christian charitable
organization to help the children of the Balkans.
Vula and Haig Rushdoony head up the Macedonian Outreach. They started
it 15 years ago after their children were grown and they were ready
to retire. The Rushdoonys live on the Alamo and Danville border and
run the program out of their home, stocking up on supplies to send
to the children of Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece and Macedonia. They
have family, and other personal ties, in Greece.
I spoke with Vula, who came to America from Greece at the age of 16.
She recalls what it was like to be cold and hungry.
"My father was killed in the war when I was 5 and my mother had no
income. We barely survived," Vula said. "However, there were days when
we had a slice of raisin bread and a cup of hot chocolate provided
to us through the Marshall Plan the United States set up after World
War II," Vula said.
She explained that the civil war continued in Greece, and America
continued to help the Greek people. She sent her mother money and
finally sent for her seven years later to join her in America.
Haig's family survived the massacre of Armenia at the turn of the
century and fled to America, where Haig was born.
When the Rushdoonys retired, they decided to reach out and help,
just as America had helped their countries.
"We felt that America had done so much for us and Haig and I wanted
to give back some of the blessing this country had given us," Vula
told me. "The greatest thing for Haig and me is freedom. When I hear
people talk against this country I become a lioness. I earned the
right to be an American. We are lucky to live here."
She said the Outreach has been highly successful, and that people
from all over the community participate in gathering supplies for
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and the former Yugoslavian states
of Bosnia, Croatia, the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and
Serbia-Montenegro. Vula and Haig travel each year, along with other
volunteers, to deliver the much-needed goods to the Balkan Peninsula.
When they began this mission, Vula decided to sell some of her china
and jewelry, and urged friends and neighbors to do the same. Thus
the Candy Cane Boutique was born.
Each year the boutique offers lots of interesting "vintage" items,
as well as numerous new gifts for the holidays. Vula said the gift
baskets and baked goods are "over the top" fabulous.
The boutique is located at 1350 Danville Blvd., and runs from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Dee told me that the boutique is a success because of the
generosity of the community and efforts of the volunteers.
Since 1992, the Macedonian Outreach has also brought more than 50
children with life-threatening medical problems to the United States
or Europe for treatment. The organization also provides food, clothing,
monetary aid and spiritual guidance.
Vula explained that although the unemployment rate is high, and people
are cold and hungry, she has been told time and again that they would
rather be in this condition because it means they are free.
For more information about the Macedonian Outreach, visit their
Web site at www.macedonianoutreach.com or call Vula and Haig at
925-820-4107. See you at the boutique.
Have a great week!