Manitowoc residents Mike and Mary Lambert adopted two young boys from Ethiopia, and when they traveled to the African nation saw all the poverty and decided they needed to do something about it.
So, the group Americans Serving African Children or ASAC was formed, and through this the 14th and final year they’ve been able to raise just under half a million dollars.
During Sunday’s Pancake Breakfast at Roncalli Elementary School, Mike Lambert spoke about their efforts.
“We found it really rewarding because a dollar in Africa goes so far,” he said. “We can build a new well for $8,000, we can send a kid to school with a uniform and backpack for $100. So, what we have here just multiplies so much. It’s a lot of fun, you feel like Santa Claus all year long.”
Lambert also told us it has been a labor of love.
“But, like every organization, we’re having trouble getting new members,” he explained. “The old members are getting older and we have less and less people doing the same amount of work. We clearly knew we had to start it, but we’re getting a little long in the tooth and tired. So, on to bigger and other things I guess.”
The ASAC organization funded projects in Ethiopia ranging from digging wells in communities without clean water to building cow barns, chicken and fish hatcheries, gardens, and water sources.
All, Lambert says, to make people more self-sufficient in Africa.
