SHOES for HAITI
UPDATES
We began collecting Shoes for Haiti, July 2013. It will soon to be one year! Sweet how God has delivered so many offerings to the Haitians through so many people sharing their
SHOES for HAITI.
Over 800 pairs of shoes have been sent to me over the past 12 months either via mail, hand deliveries or I physically go pick them up. The process after I receive the shoes is, clean each pair and leave them out in the sun to dry for several days to ensure the shoes are tidy before sharing them with our Haitian friends. It is important to me, that the offerings we give to Haiti (NVM) are something we take pride in and would want our children/family to receive. With that being said, if some of the shoes are more then "gently worn" (which are very few) then I save them and give them to a local charity to disperse accordingly.
When I have a substantial amount of shoes that are ready to be shipped; I send them to Indiana to the NVM Warehouse. They receive the shoes and store them until teams go to Haiti or they have a container ready to be sent to NVM. Short-term teams go to NVM in Haiti weekly, and some will have a suitcase of YOUR shoes to hand deliver to NVM, Chambrun, Ouest, Haiti.
Once the shoes arrive in NVM; they are stored and given to the children or adults as NVM sees the need. One thing that is important for everyone to understand is these shoes are an "investment" not a hand-out. NVM and Pastor Pierre do not believe in just giving handouts to the local Haitians. It is about earning a gift by many avenues. Example: school children that have excelled in good grades, showing exceptional kindness to others, attendance, etc. These shoes can allow a child to come to school to better themselves (students must wear school uniforms). Adults that receive a pair of shoes could pay .25 cents, for an example, which will allow them to walk to work, or do extra work around the NVM compound. If at anytime you wish to learn more about what is happening at NVM, then peruse the web site for updates and feel free to ask questions.
I respect and honor the decisions of how and when the shoes are distributed by NVM; I have no doubt that when there is a need, Pastor Pierre and his staff will share your shoes as needed.
It is my hope/prayer that one day we will no longer collect SHOES for HAITI because we have made a difference and allowed someone to better themselves and be an integral working educated Haitian.
This is why I do this...not about me; about giving back and making a difference.
Our wonderful local UPS store graciously gives me a free box each time I have a shipment. It warms my heart how people are so freely to give, unconditionally. Kudos to Jeff and the team at: UPS 1910 E Southeast Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701 Phone:(903) 533-8077
Colonial Hills Baptist Church, from Tyler supports the monetary costs to ship the shoes since September 2013, which has helped me tremendously. Any monetary donations I receive is greatly appreciated and documented as well as notifying the church.
(I have an excel spreadsheet of the shoes collected, shipped, monetary
donations, names
of each person/group readily available for
accountability)
As the one year anniversary of collecting SHOES for HAITI approaches, my words are endless to thank you for giving, sharing and loving the Haitians from afar.
I will be traveling with a medical team in September to NVM, Haiti and I am super excited to see the difference in what you all have done, by giving your
SHOES for
HAITI!!!
Life is Goud!
pjbrower@gmail.com
