The evening was wonderful, inspiring, and memorable. It was more than its organizers could ever have imagined. More than 130 guests attended the Project Comfort Orphans Benefit Dinner bringing in ticket sales and additional donations of more than $13,000.

The décor was impressive. Saidy Grey, Project Comfort benefit designer and recent alumnus of the Loma Linda University (LLU) School of Nursing, did an amazing job setting the mood with a registration table shrouded with fabrics of an Eastland canopy. Centerpieces resembling the hardwood beds of the native Ethiopians held an abundance of fruit, and were brought alive by a collage of fabrics, candles, and vases marked with colors and designs of the culture. Most attendants remarked of how professionally made the ornamentations looked. More astonished were they, however, when they heard the total cost for the decorations was less than $200. Saidy believed it to be an act of God turning out so well using so little resources. A gallery of pictures displaying the children of Ethiopia was also portrayed. These photos were taken by a supporter of Project Comfort, Dr. Larry Thomas, when he traveled through Ethiopia a couple years before.

Dinner was started with a welcome by Project Comfort's founder, Sarah McCash, a nursing student from LLU, followed by grace given by Vanessa Castro, a student physician assistant of LLU. With authentic music from Ethiopia playing in the background, dinner was served starting with a luscious garden salad. Next served was the main dish of vegetables and spinach crepes with a light cream sauce, finished with dessert, a slice of delicate strawberry cheesecake. As the program continued attendants were blessed by the powerful words given by the Chancellor of Loma Linda University, Dr. Richard Hart, as well as the heartwarming encouragement from the Associate Dean of the LLU School of Nursing, Dr. Dynette Hart. A touching montage of images taken by Dr. Thomas and compiled by Patricia Thio showed the beauty and sorrows of Ethiopia. This was followed by selected clips from the award winning "Footsteps of the Unknown" which focused on the conditions and hardships that the children of Ethiopia face on a daily basis. A particular touching story from the documentary was about an infant child that was abandoned in a latrine to die who was saved and eventually adopted by a family from the United States.

The night moved forward with a presentation by the four main members of Project Comfort: Sarah McCash; Jessica fields, student nurse of the LLU School of Nursing; Samuel McCash, student physician of LLU School of Medicine and husband to Sarah; and Meera Joshi, student nurse of the LLU School of Nursing. There they told of how Project Comfort came to be, and how Sarah and her husband came to the decision of selling their most prized possession, Sarah's diamond engagement ring, to help the orphans in Gimbie Ethiopia. They continued to unveil Project Comfort by revealing their main goal of "giving hope to the children of Gimbie by providing them with basic needs such as food, clothes, education, and medical requirements".

The evening then finished with an amazing musical performance by Elayna Boynton of the song “The Beginning”, an arrangement she composed specifically from the ideals of Project Comfort. The audience was deeply moved by her awe-inspiring lyrics and soul clutching voice. Some were brought to tears, while others took in every breath of the need to help the children.

The response was overwhelming. More and more donations started pouring in. An individual even dropped a check off for $2000 saying that is was for Sarah’s ring, but that she did not want to take the ring and left before it could be given to her. Individuals started asking questions about how to volunteer, of what they could do in Ethiopia, and how they can work there. It was like God spoke to the people, and that the people for once heard Him. The orphans in Gimbie will have their hope, for this night makes it evident that it is on its way.

-Sam McCash

Loma Linda City News

Project Comfort was featured on the front page of of the "Loma Linda City News" Newspaper. Click here to see the story.