by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications
Holland Home resident Mary Kelly sports a "Heart for Haiti" ribbon as she poses by a display made up of images from the Haiti Rescue Center blog.
When residents of Holland Home, our retirement community in South Holland, Illinois, first heard about the January 13 earthquake in Haiti, their knee-jerk reaction was, "What can we do to help?"
Barb Van Milligan, the Life Enrichment Director at Holland Home, had a personal connection to Haiti. Her daughter Roberta had traveled there the day after Thanksgiving to visit a ministry she'd been supporting — Real Hope for Haiti. A mother of five, Roberta's heart was drawn to the children being served at Real Hope's Rescue Center.
Roberta has an artistic side, so even before her visit to Haiti, she started a blog called Artists for Hope. The blog shows photos of a variety of artwork — jewelry, paintings, clay models, and more — and describes some of the fundraising activities Roberta and her artist friends are involved in, selling their own artwork and donating 100% of the purchase price to the Rescue Center. Since the earthquake they have been even busier than usual.
So when Holland Home residents began telling Barb Van Milligan, "We would love to make a donation to Haiti, but we don't know which ministry to support," she quickly responded, "I know a ministry where 100% of the donations go directly to buying baby formula, food staples, and medicines that the people need." Thus was launched the "Holland Home has a Heart for Haiti" campaign.
Residents and staff can give a donation of any amount and receive a Heart for Haiti ribbon to show their support. Barb and her Life Enrichment team hand-made 162 ribbons, and it's encouraging to see so many people around the building sporting them. Barb originally thought the campaign might raise "a couple hundred dollars" for Haiti, so she was overwhelmed to learn that $1,450.00 had been raised less in less than two weeks!
The campaign will end on Valentine's Day, less than two weeks from now, when Barb will mail a check for the grand total to the Haiti Rescue Center.
One resident said, "I knew I wanted to give, but I was unsure of the right organization to give to. Holland Home gave me the right opportunity to give."
People outside of Holland Home are welcome to contribute as well. There are three convenient ways to make a donation:
- You can bring a check directly to the Holland Home business office and pick up a Heart for Haiti ribbon. Holland Home is located at 16300 Louis Avenue in South Holland, IL 60473.
- You can visit the Artists for Hope blog and either make a donation or buy some artwork.
- You can visit the Haiti Rescue Center blog and make a donation.
Many Holland Home residents have expressed appreciation for the opportunity to live out their faith and make a difference. "When I look at the pictures of Haiti children" said one grandmother. "I think of my great-grandchildren and of how blessed we are to live in this nation. 'Holland Home has a Heart for Haiti' reminded me of my daily blessings and my responsibility to share my blessings with others." Amen!
