When Judy Broom (a/k/a "The HUG Lady") and a friend traveled to Alexandria, Romania in February of 1991, they were shocked by the conditions of the orphanages and hospitals they visited. The television shows and magazine articles could not prepare them for the reality that they found. Through tears, they saw first hand.

No heat, overcrowding, neglected babies
The conditions in the orphanage were even worse than they had expected. The smell of urine and feces permeated the air because the babies were filthy and laying on urine-soaked mattresses. Sometimes two, three, or four babies were confined to one rusty iron baby bed. Of the 100 children, ages 0-3, in this orphanage, many were sick. Although it was winter, there was no central heat. Small space heaters were placed under a few beds with one heater for an area of five to six cribs. The first winters, 33 of the 100 children died due to lack of medication and frigid conditions.

The workers were untrained and would change a child no more than twice a day. Only after the outside collar on seven layers of clothing became wet to the touch. Due to lack of supplies such as rubber pants and lack of time and caring, the children were almost never taken out of their beds. Even during feeding time, bottles were propped on pillows. The children had no place to play; the floors were cold, dirty concrete. The only toy was a raggedy old green teddy bear. All were starving, not only for nutritious food, but for human touch.

No anesthesia - only Extra-Strength Tylenol
Judy and the HUG volunteer who went with her visited the only 100-bed county hospital next to the orphanage, and found that it had one stethoscope, three glass syringes, and old, out-dated, or broken equipment. Some of the equipment was World War One vintage and medical books were 25 years old. Because there was no anesthesia in all of Romania, Extra Strength Tylenol was the only source of pain relief for emergency surgeries. Nursing schools had been shut down ten years before, resulting in untrained nurses. It was clear that supplies, medicine, equipment, and professional training were needed.

Judy promised to be back in three months with help. Three months later, she returned with the first HUG service team of 17 volunteers. Private donations of almost 75 tons were transported on a U.S. Army C-5 Galaxy cargo plane. The Romanian army in Alexandria sent soldiers to help transport the goods to the orphanage and hospitals throughout the country. This was the largest private donation to that date in Romania.

Closer to home...
From 1991 - 2001, HUG created a glorious Christmas for the children of the Lakota Sioux of the Rosebud Reservation in Mission, South Dakota. Donated toys, clothes, shoes, fresh fruits, nuts and other treats were shipped in time for holiday distribution. Steps are currently being taken to re-establish new contacts and needed funds.

Dallas area women's shelters receive HUG boxes throughout the year, consisting of toiletries and personal hygiene items for women who have fled their abusive homes. HUG boxes for children are filled with small toys, crayons and books, as well as toiletries.

Emergency relief
Refugees from religious and political internment camps from Liberia, Sudan, and Eastern European countries who have come to live in Dallas have received furniture, house wares, clothing, and toys for children to set up new households.

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