BE THE CHANGE FOUNDATION - REFRESH
Donation protected
My husband and I visited St. Maarten a couple of years ago and fell in love with the island. Needless to say, we were very sad when we learned of the Cat 5+ hurricane that slammed the island and did so much damage last September.
My husband and I usually plan an end of the year trip in conjunction with our wedding anniversary (#28 this year!) and as the time approached we decided that this year we would make it our first “volunteer vacation” – to go somewhere and volunteer in some way (and still however make the time for a little fun and down time). We decided our destination would be sunny, beautiful St. Maarten.
When we arrived on Jan. 11, we didn’t have a very specific plan, but we were determined to help! And believe me, you could easily see that the need was great. I couldn’t believe the conditions of so many still five months after the hurricane. So, we decided we would just start helping anyone, anywhere with anything we could ... taking a Random Acts of Kindness approach and it's been great!
We volunteered at the Red Cross for several days, sorting “donations, weed-eating and cleaning up the property and made a sign for them to help spread the word for more volunteers.
We picked up bags and bags of trash and debris in neighborhoods and public places and picked up people needing rides.
We paid for an elderly mans doctor visit who had a severe infection but they wouldn't see him because of an issue with his gov. Insurance card.
We bought groceries, had clothes washed and tipped our servers generously.
We purchased $800 of materials to repair/replace the roof of an elderly widow who had been living without a proper roof structure or electricity since Irma.
We purchased a few tools and even helped coach a couple of people about how to start a business of their own so they could take charge of their potential and income potential.
During this journey, we ended up being connected by Island92’s (www.island92.com) Dr. Soc, with an amazing local young man, Drae who spends so much of his time volunteering and helping others. I’m talking long days in the hot sun repairing roofs for little old ladies, kind of help. This place needs more Draes! Drae's effort is called REFRESH SXM. You can follow his efforts and progress on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/refreshsxm/
The need is HUGE and while Drae and his small volunteer crew are willing to give their time for the countless roof repair needs on the island, having the materials is a whole other problem. We stepped with the funds to start the roof repair for Ms. Trudy’s project, and in the end it will cost about $5,000. So, Dr. Soc connected us with the “BeTheChangeSXM” foundation (https://www.facebook.com/BeTheChangeSXM/)
who in turn graciously agreed to sponsor our GoFundMe campaign to help provide the roofing materials for the poorest in the community, still living under tarps and very poor conditions.
Will you please help? $25, $50, $100 or more will be used directly to make a difference.
Kimberly and Preston Medlock
This campaign will be managed locally through St. Maarten's Be The Change Foundation SXM. Follow Drae, Island 92, Dr. Soc, Refresh SXM on Facebook for updates.
You may email the Campaign Administrator, Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin of Island 92 Radio at [email redacted] or call our US line at 1-786-693-9200 anytime.
My husband and I usually plan an end of the year trip in conjunction with our wedding anniversary (#28 this year!) and as the time approached we decided that this year we would make it our first “volunteer vacation” – to go somewhere and volunteer in some way (and still however make the time for a little fun and down time). We decided our destination would be sunny, beautiful St. Maarten.
When we arrived on Jan. 11, we didn’t have a very specific plan, but we were determined to help! And believe me, you could easily see that the need was great. I couldn’t believe the conditions of so many still five months after the hurricane. So, we decided we would just start helping anyone, anywhere with anything we could ... taking a Random Acts of Kindness approach and it's been great!
We volunteered at the Red Cross for several days, sorting “donations, weed-eating and cleaning up the property and made a sign for them to help spread the word for more volunteers.
We picked up bags and bags of trash and debris in neighborhoods and public places and picked up people needing rides.
We paid for an elderly mans doctor visit who had a severe infection but they wouldn't see him because of an issue with his gov. Insurance card.
We bought groceries, had clothes washed and tipped our servers generously.
We purchased $800 of materials to repair/replace the roof of an elderly widow who had been living without a proper roof structure or electricity since Irma.
We purchased a few tools and even helped coach a couple of people about how to start a business of their own so they could take charge of their potential and income potential.
During this journey, we ended up being connected by Island92’s (www.island92.com) Dr. Soc, with an amazing local young man, Drae who spends so much of his time volunteering and helping others. I’m talking long days in the hot sun repairing roofs for little old ladies, kind of help. This place needs more Draes! Drae's effort is called REFRESH SXM. You can follow his efforts and progress on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/refreshsxm/
The need is HUGE and while Drae and his small volunteer crew are willing to give their time for the countless roof repair needs on the island, having the materials is a whole other problem. We stepped with the funds to start the roof repair for Ms. Trudy’s project, and in the end it will cost about $5,000. So, Dr. Soc connected us with the “BeTheChangeSXM” foundation (https://www.facebook.com/BeTheChangeSXM/)
who in turn graciously agreed to sponsor our GoFundMe campaign to help provide the roofing materials for the poorest in the community, still living under tarps and very poor conditions.
Will you please help? $25, $50, $100 or more will be used directly to make a difference.
Kimberly and Preston Medlock
This campaign will be managed locally through St. Maarten's Be The Change Foundation SXM. Follow Drae, Island 92, Dr. Soc, Refresh SXM on Facebook for updates.
You may email the Campaign Administrator, Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin of Island 92 Radio at [email redacted] or call our US line at 1-786-693-9200 anytime.
Organizer
Jeffrey Sochrin
Organizer
Miami, FL
