Barrington Mom Asking Neighbors to Feed Orphans in India on Spare Change

Pat Marron is asking many of her neighbors in Hampden Meadows to give their spare change to help feed orphans in India.

Marron, of 3 Christine Drive, dropped off last Saturday, Aug. 24, a plastic bag with a can and a letter titled “Feasting on your Spare Change.” 

It’s a plea to raise money for starving and orphaned children of India – “the lucky ones,” she said.

“At least, they are off the streets in an orphanage,” Marron said. “They are protected from being smuggled out of the country and turned into slaves.” 

Being one of the tens of millions of kids in an orphanage in India does not mean they ever have enough to eat, though, Marron said.

“Maybe a few handfuls of rice once each day,” said Marron, who will make her 16th trip to India in November in the past 10 years. 

Marron is raising the money for Manna International, which was founded by Ernest and Rachel Komanapalli, formerly of Hampden Meadows. They sold their home in Barrington to buy their first children’s home in India.

“They have saved 12,000 orphaned children from the streets so far,” said Marron of the Komanapallis, who are natives of India. Their son manages the nonprofit now.

Your change may not mean that much in Barrington, she said. But in India it can go a long way. Things remain very difficult there, she said. 

Put the can back in the bag and hang it on your door knob before 10 am next Saturday, Sept. 7. Marron and her kids, who helped distribute the cans, will collect them.

Or, if you don’t want to leave the can for her and her crew to pick up, you can drop it off at her home. Leave it in the plastic bin on her porch. You can’t miss it.