Besides food and care, what China's orphaned infants need most is love --lots of hugs and holding! To meet this urgent need, CHINA CONNECTION and AMITY FOUNDATION in CHINA established the "Hugging Grannies" program in 1989. Since then, the program has made an enormous difference in the lives of these orphaned babies.

The primary job of the "Grannies" is to hug and hold needy orphans, play with them, and make them feel very special. "Grannies" have prior medical experience or have worked closely with children in some capacity. As volunteers, they only need help with their daily bus fare and a simple lunch. This allows them to provide consistent love daily which helps develop little ones who can later bond well with adoptive parents and lead happy, fruitful lives.