Aurora woman turns birthday into donation drive for Ugandan orphanage

For her 52nd birthday Dec. 3, Christine Martin has asked family and friends for gifts - but not for herself.

Instead of traditional gifts of jewelry, clothes and other items, the Aurora resident is raising $200 for Tusonge Ministries, an orphanage and chicken farm in Uganda.

Martin, former secretary at Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Aurora, hosted a Tusonge touring youth choir and chaperones when they performed a concert at the church during a national tour a few years ago.

Since then, Martin has coordinated annual donations from church members to support the Uganda ministry.

She created a "ChickCan" receptacle to recycle aluminum soda cans for donations to Tusonge.

Donations can be sent to Martin, 1715 Lily St., Aurora, IL 60505.