Boca Grande reaches fundraising goal to build 130 homes in Gressier

■ STAFF REPORT The Boca Grande Hope for Haitians has stepped up its home-building mission in Haiti with the international relief and development organization Food for the Poor by funding one of its most ambitious home-building projects since it began working through the charity in 2009. “I want to express my gratitude to God for […]

■ STAFF REPORT

The Boca Grande Hope for Haitians has stepped up its home-building mission in Haiti with the international relief and development organization Food for the Poor by funding one of its most ambitious home-building projects since it began working through the charity in 2009.
“I want to express my gratitude to God for guiding this project to a successful conclusion,” said Ben Scott, co-chairman of Boca Grande Hope for Haitians. “The goal of building 130 homes in one year was four times greater than any other project over the past eight years and could only happen with His help.”
Boca Grande Hope for Haitians got an early start on its fundraising for the homes in December during “A Home for the Holidays” fundraiser sponsored by the Rotary Club in Piqua, Ohio, and its Chair, Sharon Semanie. That event raised enough money to build 15 homes, which resulted in 30 homes, thanks to a housing match.
But it was the ongoing generous support of a record number of guests at the eighth annual Boca Grande Hope for Haitians reception at The Gasparilla Inn Beach Club in Boca Grande in February that allowed this dream to become a reality. Boca Grande reached its goal of 50 homes in March, and thanks to a housing match,the 50 doubled to100 new homes, pushing Boca Grande to their goal to help destitute families.
“I cannot express enough my gratitude to all the donors of Boca Grande who contributed to the building of 130 homes for the Haitian people. Taking these families out of the dump where they have been living in dilapidated tents and tin shacks, and giving them a secure home with a floor, toilet and, most of all, hope is truly remarkable,” said Scott. “For this, and all the generations who will follow, they will be forever grateful.”
In October, Scott will travel with Food for the Poor Executive Director Angel Aloma to Haiti to the see the completed project and to meet some of the families who received homes.
“The timing for the building of such a large number of homes, which are currently underway, is really a blessing, because the bulk of the construction will take place ahead of the rainy season that starts in June,” said Aloma. “It’s going to be an exciting time when the families currently living in inhumane conditions in Alpha Village receive their safe and secure homes made possible by the loving support of Boca Grande.”
If you want to continue to support Boca Grande Hope for Haitians through the housing match, go to www.FoodforthePoor.org/participate/events/boca-grande/ or send a check to Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Fla., 33073 with source code # SP1703.
Food for the Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor, primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. Over the last 10 years, fundraising and other administrative costs averaged less than 5 percent of our expenses; more than 95 percent of all donations went directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, visit FoodforthePoor.org.