Dear friends and followers:

My name is Mary Scholten. I began fundraising for the families living in extreme poverty in Cambodia approximately 12 years ago after my first visit to Siem Reap and seeing such poverty in the rural villages surrounding Siem Reap, Cambodia. My true passion is to help the families, the children and the grannies who struggle daily to purchase food, and drink clean water.

As I reflect on the past couple of years I cannot help but feel an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for everyone in the Mary’s Compassion 4 Cambodia community. The dedication and commitment you, my donors and volunteers helped me to adapt to the many changes and hurdles during these past couple of years and to improve the services rendered to the grannies and families in 2023 through 2025.

I am returning to Siem Reap Cambodia at the end of October of this year and will spend 2 months visiting the grannies, 5-6 villages, a couple schools and the Children’s Hospital.

Mary’s Compassion 4 Cambodia proved itself to be resilient just like the families & the elderly we served. And I remain purposeful in my mission to share love & compassion. The people of Cambodia are so grateful for the help we give them. They are always willing to share their love and great smiles that speak volumes. The families love to send blessings to YOU and YOUR families because of YOUR generosity in helping them.

Because of YOU and your ongoing support we are able to make a huge difference and a lasting impact on the lives of so many families (approximately 250 families) by giving out food packets with rice, soy sauce, fish sauce, noodles and cans of fish. We are also able to supply school supplies to 250 - 300 primary school children. While visiting the villages I also will pass out school supplies to the young children attending primary school. If the children do not have paper and pencil or school uniform…they cannot attend school and just stay home or go to work with their parents collecting plastic water bottles for cash so the family can eat.

I am proud of what we have accomplished in the last couple of years because of your support for me and my mission. Just one example: Two years ago I was able to help a 74 year old granny who is raising two grandchildren with no income and no family to help her. She walks to the market every day trying to sell sand crabs, frogs and fish that she catches out in the field behind her hut so that she can buy some rice. Every time it rains her clothing and bedding got wet because of the holes in the roof and walls. Your support made a huge difference for Granny! I was able to rebuild granny’s dilapidated hut so that she no longer had to worry about the rain and wind. She was able to receive cataract surgery and a new bicycle. This is all thanks to you and your generosity.

This year imy goal is to raise $8,000. I will need donations for the following projects I have planned so far. More villages will be added as I get closer to the date of my arrival.

My Rice Runs include:

— Bags of Rice

— Bottles of Soy Sauce & Fish Sauce

— Boxes of dry noodles

— Cans of Fish

— Cost of food packets per family) $25 -$30 — based on family of 4.

— School supplies, including #2 pencils, colored pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, ruler & pads of paper with a zippered plastic bag for school items ($1500)

— School uniforms for 10-20 very poor students (approximately $30) including back pack, 2-skirt or pants, 2-blouse, socks, shoes)

— Drilling of Water Well in a village of 250 families ($900)

— 2nd Drill Water Well for remote village

— Solar Lights on Light Post for a village without electricity ($45 each). These solar lights help the children and families to feel safe while walking and riding bikes in the pitch black nights where they have no electricity.

— Road repair, adding sand & gravel to fix road with huge holes in Keo’s village ($750)

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in.”

- Matthew 25:35

**I am also grateful for any Pop Cans and Bottles you want to donate for recycling in the Grand Rapids, Michigan surrounding area.

Thank you,

Mary Scholten

Mary’s Compassion 4 Cambodia