Downers Grove Ray Graham House

The Ray Graham Association’s mission is “dedicated to the full participation of all people with developmental disabilities in a quality life by providing leadership that supports the accomplishments of individuals, strengthens families and inspires community involvement”.

Global Hope became aware of a Ray Graham-sponsored home right here in Downers Grove and its need for some TLC.  And TLC, hard work, tireless giving and enormous hearts are what our Global Hope community is all about…

We are TLC bound and you are invited!  We’ll have plenty for you to do and enough smiles and satisfaction for all who would like to help.

See details below.

 

The IMN depot is complete!

We just passed the two-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti and Global Hope continues it’s steady support to rebuild IMN community school in conjunction with other local help.   We have helped with water, shelter, education and now FOOD.

IMN School was at risk of losing their food from the World Food Programme because the kitchen/storage facilities didn’t meet the WFP requirements.

Global Hope and Schools Count partnered once again to donate funds to make kitchen repairs and build a food storage area.  Hunger  and malnutrition is rampant in Haiti and this was essential.

Funding Request - Erik Badger, Haiti Partners

November 8, 2011

I’m writing because we’re facing a challenge at IMN that we hope Global Hope might consider helping with.  I regret to ask like this.  I prefer to follow our supporters’ lead on this sort of thing.  But, unfortunately, we’re in a bit of a pinch.

 Last spring we secured food to begin a meal program at IMN through the World Food Programme.  It’s a fantastic deal.  They supply rice, beans, oil and salt, and IMN manages the rest.  In an attempt to make the program sustainable, Haiti Partners covered the start-up costs (pots, dishes, etc.) and Maxandre has been asking for contributions from parents to cover the school’s costs to prepare and serve the food.

In September, however, the WFP visited the school to distribute more food.  While there, they discovered that the kitchen and storage areas did not meet their sanitary conditions.  Though we didn’t expect this, it is not that surprising.  The food was being stored in a neighbor’s house and the cooking – as is customary in Haiti – takes place outside in an unfenced area on a wood fire, with the pots raised off the ground by large rocks.

So they gave Maxandre a supply of food and told him that he needed to build a depot and fix the kitchen before IMN would receive further distributions.  Maxandre, feeling great pressure to assure that the meal program continues (as you can imagine, with the prevalence of hunger there, meal programs are a very big deal in Haiti) immediately began the construction of a new, secure room for a depot.  Unfortunately, we had no designated funds for this: the money he used was partly his own and partly came out of operating funds.

When I learned of this, I told Maxandre that HP did not have the funds to cover it and he halted the project.  (Despite all the great work that’s happening, HP just had to cut our budget by 20% because fundraising dropped dramatically in the last few months due to the economy.)  Currently, the depot is partially constructed and work on the kitchen has yet to go ahead.

All that said, I’m compelled to ask if Global Hope will consider helping the school through this.  Maxandre has calculated the total project at $3500.  Since it has already been started, we expect it can be completed quite quickly, presumably by my next visit in December.

I have to add that given Haiti Partners’ financial situation, as in the past, we must continue to fundraise for operating costs at IMN which we have guaranteed to cover.  Though this is not pressing the way the current project is, it is nonetheless necessary.  If you’d like a copy of our 2010-11 accord with IMN, which includes a full operating budget, just let me know.

As I mentioned above, I regret to approach you this way.  Global Hope has been very generous with IMN and Haiti Partners already and I in no way want to neglect that.  However, IMN is facing a special circumstance so I find myself taking special measures.

Thanks so much for your consideration.  As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to be in touch.  I hope all is well with you and everyone at Global Hope.

Erik

The depot is now complete and the school is thriving. Erik shares his gratitude for the continued support:

December 23, 2011

Hi Connie and Dick,

I just wanted to let you know that I visited IMN and the depot is complete.  Since Maxandre had already gotten a good start on it by the time I contacted you, he was able to get the masons back quickly to finish it before my visit last week.  This worked out particularly well because the school was also holding their annual Christmas party that day.

I’m attaching a few pictures here and also made a video where I explain more about the project: http://youtu.be/qFeoXFxdnVI  I realize this isn’t as extensive as my previous reports, but I wanted to get this to you asap.  If you have any questions, or would like me to do a more formal report for your boards, just let me know.

Thanks again so much for your crucial support of IMN.  As is apparent in the video, the school is thriving and we send you our sincere gratitude for your continued efforts to make this possible.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

Erik

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thank you for your support!!!

Shop and Support Global Hope on Wednesday, March 21!

We are giddy with excitement!!   Global Hope is honored to be the recipient of Willowbrook Whole Foods Market’s 5% Community Support Day (5% of the entire day’s sales will go directly to Global Hope).

How can you help?  It’s simple…Shop at Willowbrook Whole Foods Market on Wed, March 21, between 8am – 10pm.

That’s it – oh, and tell everyone you know to do the same.  “No grocery list is too large or too small…” Together we can provide relief where it is needed most.

By the way, we’ll be in attendance as well, so come by our display table and say ‘Hello” …we’d love to meet you. We’ll have pictures and raffles galore!!

The Whole Foods Market Willowbrook store is located west of Route 83 on 63rd Street. Check out their store calendar for more information.

Check out our archives to see what Global Hope has accomplished in past years, all in thanks to the many devoted volunteers who give their hearts and time to our projects!

Created by: Nancy

After a string of projects, we took a moment – several moments – to catch our breath and reflect on the past four years of service and look ahead to what is next.  While it did not allow for our Annual Fall Clean-Up this year, know that we are back at the drawing table planning for the holidays.   Look for announcements soon.

Let’s catch up in the meantime… read on.

IMN School

When we think of the progress the IMN School in Haiti has made, our smiles – well, there’s not enough space when we stand side by side – our smiles are that wide.  Together we have made life after a devastating earthquake, just a little brighter.  The  principal, Maxandre Bien Aime, has worked hard to allocate donations in an effort to return this school to a thriving educational facility with happy children eager to learn – and an aside here, ten eager sixth graders passed the notoriously challenging national tests – that’s 10 out of 10 – and according to Maxandre, an unheard of feat in Haiti.

Last year, GH’s donations paid for staff salaries and installed a well and water storage and re-established running water for the school and surrounding community.  This year’s donations funded the purchase of 6 sturdy iron windows, 1 iron gate and 14 iron panels (cut, welded, rust-proofed and installed) that now grace the newly built walls of a structure that, aside from the greater security provided, elicits great pride in the community.  To date, 180 students are learning, the community is better functioning and the school’s staff is beaming.  There is plenty more to do – one step at a time.

JAMMIN’ 4 VETS

it was an honor and a sight to behold as GH (along with the Legion Riders Post 80) presented a $9000 check to Robert Adams, president of the Midwest Homeless Shelter for Veterans in Wheaton, IL and we were equally honored and thrilled to present another check for $9000 to the Hines Physically Challenged Sports Program for Veterans.  Of course, that was after a gala event that filled one summer night in July with music and laughter and the lively chatter of new and old friends alike, during a most scrumptious meal of roast pig and all the trimmings – all of it to honor and support our veterans and the quality of their lives.  What a wonderful way to say “Thank you” to those who serve our country.

Fire Safety Project

It all began with a group of high school students at UIC College Prep- Noble Street Charter School and a project concerning fire safety…  GH learned of this and purchased 50 smoke detectors for distribution to students’ families. There’s more… on a Saturday in early September, a group of GH volunteers travelled to the inner city to personally install smoke detectors in 5 separate homes.  There’s even more… in recognition of this service, GH was the proud recipient of the “Corporate Award” presented by the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association.  It all began with a group of high school students.  We say to them,”Bravo for putting your goodwill into motion”!  …And the goodwill just keeps rolling.

Global Hope Community Garden

What a season of giving this beautiful garden provided.  From May through mid-October our little garden supplied us with 78 bags of produce that were delivered each Monday and Friday to the Downers Grove Township Food Pantry.  We have a slew of wonderful volunteers to thank.

First, we extend a special thanks to Liz Rossignuolo for wearing the hat of “volunteer coordinator”.  Liz kept a consistent and reliable rhythm of volunteers tending to our garden in 2 week sessions throughout the entire growing season – no easy task.  Theresa Suchy-McGraw and Maura Clark both played large parts in the melody of our garden this year by being there “till the very end”.  Thank you so much for your commitment to helping GH to help others.

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We are so happy to have so many to thank!

Teresa, Rita, Maura, Steve, Pat, Vivian, Leslie, Cheryl, Sarah, Ken & Marjie, Beth & Sheila, Teri, Janet, Marina, Gayle, Teri, Cheryl, Liz, Michelle and kids, Lisa, Theresa and Aileen, Mary, Linda, and the fabulous Green Team from Whole Foods (Willowbrook).

From deep within the heart and soul of Global Hope we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and we send you a resounding “THANK YOU”.

Click here to view the embedded video.