Spring 2006: An In-Kind Donation Bonanza!
Many thanks to our former and current BECA volunteers and their family and friends who have worked so hard to collect books and supplies that will enrich the educational experience of our students in Honduras and facilitate the BECA team's ability to be effective in the classroom! We wanted to share some of the recent reports of in-kind donation success. Special thanks to our new friends Matthew 25 who have made it possible for so many of these supplies to be transported to Honduras.
Dave Marques (05-06) reports: I made it successfully to Cincinnati this weekend from Chicago to drop off supplies for the big shipment. Beforehand, I was able to meet up with Tony Hinkle, Jon Barber's (06-07) friend in Indy, to pick up the 6 computers he had been holding. Thank you Tony! The Matthew 25 folks in Cincinnati- whom Emily Morgan (06-07) connected us with - were incredible as well and amazingly generous with their extra boxes, bubble wrap and time. Not sure what I would have done without them.Their operation is quite a sight to see!
After months of storing this stuff in my bedroom and various other places and packing and hauling for days in frustration, I've got to say that leaving Cincinnati was really gratifying and inspiring. To see the work of Mathew 25 and to recognize all the different hands that have helped in this process was really amazing. Because of Karl and Jill McGregor with Shoulder To Shoulder, Tony storing computers, church bookdrives, the Chicago Willard School's staff, parent's association, and group of elementary age service students ("The Kindly Wizards), the Walgreen's manager I randomly met who offered to donate boxes and the Southwest Youth Collaborative/Youth Technology Corps high school students who actually built 5 of the computers, it really has been a great thing to see come together for our students in Cofradia.
I believe Erika Sturm (05-06) is looking to take a few more boxes of books up and Lisa Power (06-07) might be bringing some playground equipment.So, with the supplies I brought (a collection of 10 computers and 12 monitors, 18 small/medium boxes of books and supplies), Liz Morgan's contribution (about 10 medium sized boxes of books), Erika's books and the supplies that Mathew 25 is going to donate (perhaps a half pallet of notebooks, binders, etc.), this will all probably translate into about 3-4 trucks that we'll need for pickup in Honduras. Possibly more - so someone tell Don Wilfredo to get his hog fired up! I'll be visiting Cofradia from May 4-13 and am looking forward to setting this up with Emily and Jasmine, among other things like eating baleadas, hammocking, and setting toaster fires!
Erika Sturm (05-06) reports: Between starting the book drive and talking with Dave, I too am super excited about our shipment! The book drive that my church is doing for us started on Sunday, and a graduating high school senior has really spear-headed the project for us. To hear her present the book drive and what BECA and San Jeronimo are doing for children in Cofradia was amazing. I've already received a call asking if we'd like resource books from a teacher who taught LD students. I've also made a connection with a teacher at a local school who can give us their old textbooks. They're getting "rid" of some this summer, and they're ours. Too bad they'll miss the shipment, but I'm sure we'll find some way of getting them to Honduras. Jaime Koppel (BECA founder) reports: I had the pleasure of welcoming Dave Steadman to "BECA headquarters" here in NYC the other day. Dave is an alumnus of Hamilton College, as are Matt Thornton (01-02 and 02-03), Lauren Fisher (05-06 and soon to be 07-08) and I. With Lauren's support, a group of seven current Hamilton students visited Cofradia (Hamilton's second trip to Cofradia) this March: Julia Daly, Jess Mariglio, Julie Young, Diana Gaydusek, Lauren Hayden, Lauren Miklos, Kenji Tabery. Upon their return, these students organized a very successful book/supplies drive and Dave was the faithful deliveryman of these wonderful books and other educational resources. Thank you Hamilton!I also had the pleasure of taking receipt of a fun package the other day. Sent by our intrepid friend Megan Kelly and her brother Mark Kelly, the box contained soccer balls that were donated by Matt Cushing, the Men's Soccer coach, and Rebecca Begley, the Athletics Director at Wheaton College upon Mark's request. Thank you to the Megan, Mark and Wheaton College
And, finally, last but not least, a big thank you to Bob Gates whose steady stream of in-kind donations arrive often and can always be counted upon to bring a smile to the faces of our students and teachers! Thanks Bob!