By Cate Lecuyer | DANVERS | When Uganda native Stephen Kasirye returned from a trip to Africa last year, his co-workers were touched by the photos of him wearing a Santa hat, handing out gifts to children in six orphanages.

“After seeing them we wanted to help,” said Linda Morse, who works with Kasirye at Northeast Residential Services, an agency that oversees state-owned group homes. Her daughter Katherine, a student intern there, along with six other co-workers, will accompany Kasirye on his next trip to Uganda, from Nov. 19 to Nov 30.

They’ve paid for the plane ticket, have been collecting donations, and gathering six suitcases’ worth of shoes and clothing, toys and games, school supplies, toothbrushes, and whatever else the orphanages need.

The group includes two nurses, an occupational therapist and a psychologist. They’ll also be teaching the children about personal hygiene, like covering when you cough and sneeze, brushing teeth, and how to properly apply a bandage.

“We’re teaching them the basics,” said Diane Hinckley, one of the nurses. Also, they have a good sense of what each other’s strengths are.

“We work together, and we’re going together,” Hinckley said. “We’re a team.”

Kasirye said they plan to visit four orphanages this year — three from last year, and one new one.

He usually returns home around the holiday season, and he’s started handing out the supplies in gift bags, dressed as Santa — or Father Christmas in Uganda.

For that reason, the group has named itself the Father Christmas Project and is in the process of becoming a nonprofit organization.

“There’s so many kids who can go a lifetime without wearing a pair of shoes,” Kasirye said. “Things we take for granted.”

Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salem news.com.

Article Source: http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_308004923.html

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