This
year I have an exciting opportunity and it all started...
'ON
SHAKY GROUND'
The
earth shook and I listened closer to an internal drive to experience
life to the fullest, to help people through philanthropic pursuits,
and teach my children through actions and experience.
Almost
3 years ago, my father’s plane landed in Haiti at Port-au-Prince
airport just hours before the severely destructive 7.0 earthquake
hit. It left Haitians in tent cities, sparse food, waning supplies
of clean water and hard to reach medical facilities. My dad was on a
missions trip to Carrefour,with 2 others from DeRuyter, NY. He was
standing on the second story of a church they were planning to
repair. He felt the shake. Him and the other team of missionaries
scrambled hurriedly down the stairs and outside. Looking around to
find fallen buildings, injured and buried people in the village.
Loosing
power and cell phone service, Haiti was disconnected from the world
and I was disconnected from my father.
Huddled
with my two daughters, husband and sister, unsure if my father was
still alive or trapped under debris like so many other victims of
this earthquake. We waited, hours, many tormenting hours,
tearfully, painfully thinking the worst. Until finally we got word
that my father and the other missionaries were alive and OK.
After
3 days, they made it home safe. We greeted them compassionately at
the airport with tears of joy and relief.
This
experience brought me closer to the unfortunate situation in Haiti
and lit a fire inside me
to help, help, HELP!
During
this shock to my system I started a “tent drive” in our
community. We (Roots & Shoots group) sold homemade chocolate
fudge as a fundraiser to ship the tents, tarps, and other items they
needed. We gathered a total of 48 tents, several boxes of baby food,
6 large boxes and bags of baby clothes and 17 tarps. We also sent a
trunk full of assorted shoes.
My
family and I are no stranger to getting involved and giving back to
our community and those in need. We bake pies for Loaves &
Fishes, pack boxes for Soldiers, adopt children through the Salvation
Army, give donations to the SPCA and pack meals for Feed Our Starving
Children.
Philanthropy
is an active part of my children’s curriculum through 4H, and
permeates every cell of my body.
This
life is short and we should all have the opportunity to live it to
the fullest. I am looking for the chance to experience something
extraordinary, teach from experience, and help others along the way.
I
want to do more! When I heard their was another missions trip being
planned for Haiti 2013, with my father, I jumped on the opportunity.
Not entirely sure how I will fund the trip, I'm launching a
fundraiser.
I'm
reaching out to friends, family and my community for financial
support. My goal is $2,000.
Donation
Amount
Incentives
$25
& under Handwritten thank you
$50 Homemade friendship bracelet & thank
you
$100
Haitian momento & thank you
$250 & above
Hand chosen art piece from Haiti & thank you
*All
donators will be recognized on the blog. (unless otherwise noted)
Please
send checks to 121 Bone Plain Rd., Freeville, NY 13068, made out to Bec Groves-Haley.
Thanks
for your support!
