Dominican Rep. Food Distribution
Donation protected
Dear Friends -
As many of you know, my cousin Jake passed away just a few weeks into his senior year of high school in September of 2011. Jake was truly a remarkable young man. One who touched inumerable lives during his time on this earth. Since Jake's passing his family and friends have remained committed to honoring him in as many ways as possible. One such way has been through continuing the work that Jacob had such a huge heart for; helping the impoverished sugar farming communities (Bateyes) in the Dominican Republic. Jake had been to the Dominican on several humanatarian missions trips, and through his volunteer work he developed a deep empathy for and meaningful connection with those who lived there.
Jake's family and friends have raised several thousand dollars through various fundraising efforts in order to give back to the communities that Jake cared so deeply for. The money raised has been used in numerous ways, including scholarships, medical supplies, the construction of a children's hospital which has a room named in Jake's honor, and a brand new school house in Batey Brador.
"Bateyes are villages of squalor hidden in the cane fields, far away from Dominican life. Homes are made from concrete blocks or sticks and large, unrolled tin cans. There is little electricity, no sewage system, and no ventilation. A truck brings in water daily, and each family collects its allotted two buckets. The water is not potable, and disease and parasites are part of everyday life." (http://www.makariosinternational.org/life-in-a-batey.html)
This spring, with that troubling description of life in a batey in mind, a group of us will be returning to the Dominican Republic in Jake's honor for a food distribution trip. The goal of this trip is exactly as it sounds; we are seeking to provide the batey communities with as much food and clean water as possible. We hope to provide the members of these communities with some of life's most basic and essential needs, and we need your help to do it! All of our transportation and accommodation
costs have been covered out of pocket already, which means ALL donations made will go DIRECTLY towards the cost of purchasing food for those living in the bateyes.
I am humbly asking you to consider making a contribution to this cause, one which I care so deeply about. Literally, as cliche as it may sound, every dollar helps, and if you are not able to make a monetary contribution, please share this page with your friends and keep this project in your thoughts and prayers.
To learn more about Jake and the work being done in his honor please visit the Because Jake Lived page at: http://www.becausejakelived.com/
To see pictures and videos from our time in the Domincan last year, click here.
With Love,
Frank & the Rest of Our Team
As many of you know, my cousin Jake passed away just a few weeks into his senior year of high school in September of 2011. Jake was truly a remarkable young man. One who touched inumerable lives during his time on this earth. Since Jake's passing his family and friends have remained committed to honoring him in as many ways as possible. One such way has been through continuing the work that Jacob had such a huge heart for; helping the impoverished sugar farming communities (Bateyes) in the Dominican Republic. Jake had been to the Dominican on several humanatarian missions trips, and through his volunteer work he developed a deep empathy for and meaningful connection with those who lived there.
Jake's family and friends have raised several thousand dollars through various fundraising efforts in order to give back to the communities that Jake cared so deeply for. The money raised has been used in numerous ways, including scholarships, medical supplies, the construction of a children's hospital which has a room named in Jake's honor, and a brand new school house in Batey Brador.
"Bateyes are villages of squalor hidden in the cane fields, far away from Dominican life. Homes are made from concrete blocks or sticks and large, unrolled tin cans. There is little electricity, no sewage system, and no ventilation. A truck brings in water daily, and each family collects its allotted two buckets. The water is not potable, and disease and parasites are part of everyday life." (http://www.makariosinternational.org/life-in-a-batey.html)
This spring, with that troubling description of life in a batey in mind, a group of us will be returning to the Dominican Republic in Jake's honor for a food distribution trip. The goal of this trip is exactly as it sounds; we are seeking to provide the batey communities with as much food and clean water as possible. We hope to provide the members of these communities with some of life's most basic and essential needs, and we need your help to do it! All of our transportation and accommodation
costs have been covered out of pocket already, which means ALL donations made will go DIRECTLY towards the cost of purchasing food for those living in the bateyes.
I am humbly asking you to consider making a contribution to this cause, one which I care so deeply about. Literally, as cliche as it may sound, every dollar helps, and if you are not able to make a monetary contribution, please share this page with your friends and keep this project in your thoughts and prayers.
To learn more about Jake and the work being done in his honor please visit the Because Jake Lived page at: http://www.becausejakelived.com/
To see pictures and videos from our time in the Domincan last year, click here.
With Love,
Frank & the Rest of Our Team
Organizer
Frank Cooney
Organizer
Worcester, MA
