Bck in early 2010 I was looking for a community service project for my preschool class. My idea was to have a chocolate covered pretzel factory and store where we would donate all of our proceeds. I talked to Debi, the preschool director at that time and she suggested the Village of Hope in Haiti. Soon after our conversation they were hit with a major earthquake and the choice was made. From 2010 through 2018, the children in room 5 dipped and decorated 1000’s of pretzels which we then sold. In the beginning we sponsored one child and put any remaining funds towards whatever the Village of Hope was most in need of at that time. The pretzel factory was eventually joined by the Trek for Hope which gave all the children at the preschool the opportunity to collect pledges for any laps they walked or ran around the church. During my time working with my amazing partner Lorna and the children and families of room 5, we made over $15,000. With this money we were able to sponsor an additional child and contribute towards additional needs at the Village of Hope such as supplementing their daily meal of rice and beans, vitamins, immunizations and back to school gifts. I am grateful that since I left the preschool they have continued their support of the Village of Hope in Haiti, but I have missed my role in the project. Rich and I do sponsor a child ourselves, but I have been called to do more, so in January I reached out to Pastor Qualley to see if there was a way I might be able to help support the important work they are doing through my running. I am happy to report that this year I will be running the Marine Corps Marathon for the children and families of the Village of Hope. I hope that you will all take the time to learn more about what they are doing at the Village of Hope and be moved to support me in my fundraising. I will be looking for direct donations, but I will also be fundraising through cupcake sales and hopefully a few bake sales locally. If you have ideas for additional fundraisers, please let me know! Thank you in advance for your help!
