October 17, 2016

Shoe & Sneaker Drive for Haitians – Mo’ Motion Return Trip!

Parents, Players and Mo’ Motion Supporters,

Here is the short version with all the details on where to drop and to make a donation (followed by the details of the trip and photos):

For this return trip, we will narrow the contributions to the following with drop-off and link details listed below:

• Lightly worn or new sneakers or shoes that can be worn in a field, to school, to play. Shoes are important because many diseases are spread through contact with the ground and many kids and even adults do not have proper footwear.

• Nominal donations in the amount of $10-$100 to help with shipping costs to the DR and then for water, rice, beans and purchases at the local flea market for infant care – whatever Diane the director of camp says is best.

• $50-$100 Donations to support A Robinson Moreta Bellard Scholarship (will tell the full story after I return)

To donate to our 501(c)3 organization, please do so here via our PayPal account, or drop donations off in an envelope at the locations listed below.

“To: Mo” and “From: the donor’s full name, email, phone number.”

DONATE HERE VIA PAY PAL

Drop locations and dates:

Sunday, Oct. 23 from 9-4:30 pm
UPPER WEST
MS 54 Booker T Washington – enter on 108th/Columbus
Box will be next to the security guard upon entry.

Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 6-7:40 pm
UPPER EAST
Allen Stevenson School – enter on 78th/Lexington next to flower shop
Box will be next to security guard upon entry.

Wednesday, Oct 26 from 6-7:40 pm
UPPER EAST
Allen Stevenson School – enter on 78th/Lexington next to flower shop
Box will be next to security guard upon entry.

Wednesday, Oct 26 from 6-7:40 pm
UPPER WEST
Rodeph Sholom School – enter on 168 W 79th near Amsterdam
Box may be with guard or with Mo in the gym. Ask at door.

Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6-7:15 pm
UPPER EAST
Madison Ave Pres Church on Madison Ave between 73rd and 74th, east side of street.
Mo will be there in the gym or big box at the door with guard.

All shoes will be shipped by Nov. 1 in time for Mo’s return trip to see Robinson from Nov 11-14.

Now for the full story and photos…

About a month ago, I started making my plans to return to the Dominican Republic in early November to re-connect and celebrate with a young man I’d met six years ago as I was starting Mo’ Motion. I had met Robinson during a trip I’d planned to do some volunteer work in a Haitian batey over Christmas and New Year’s break while staying in Munoz Village at Diane’s Sun Camp, an interesting and lively camp for foreigners in Puerto Plata.

Robinson, a remarkable young man who finished top in his class, had no plans for the future because his family had no money as is the case with many Haitians who flee Haiti and can’t legally work in the Dominican Republic. They flee Haiti and often end up living in bateyes, which are settlements near or on a sugar cane field. In this batey, there is no running water. There are no toilets. There are hundreds of hand-made shacks where families huddle to get through the most difficult times. In Robinson’s batey, surprisingly enough, there is a school. That’s where we met and he agreed to help me rally the kids and give out what parents of our program donated for my short trip, which was a few bags filled with t-shirts, sneakers, basketballs and jump ropes. The shoes were most beneficial because many of the kids are susceptible to diseases, which they often contract through their bare feet. You will see in the pages of photos in our album below the physical conditions of the batey, and of the children. You will also see how happy they were to have adults and new friends who stopped and played with them.

Within a few months, I will tell you the full story of how Robinson helped me, and how we helped him during my visit, which ended just days prior to the devastating earthquake in 2010. I called him after the disaster struck, and we talked about the impact on his family members in Haiti, and on his future. He agreed that as hard as it was during a time when family members were struggling to eat and live, he would continue to stay focused on his education.

Recently while Robinson and I were communicating about my return to see him and celebrate his accomplishments, we both felt that it was important to do what we could in light of the devastation left by Hurricane Matthew. Friends at the camp say it is too risky to try to get into Haiti given the spread of disease, the border restrictions and tension, the lack of water and food. Emergency-service providers and medical professionals are granted access, and the best access is by helicopter because so many of the roads have been destroyed.

I wondered about what can we as a program do?

I have decided that we’re going to do what we did the first time I visited in 2010.

We chipped in some sporting equipment, some joy, some fun, some food, and we hoped. We hoped that whatever we did would mean something and that Robinson and others would pay it forward.

For this trip, we will narrow the contributions to the following with drop-off and link details listed below:

• Lightly worn or new sneakers or shoes that can be worn in a field, to school, to play.

• Nominal donations in the amount of $10-$100 to help with shipping costs, water, purchases at the local flea market for infant care – whatever Diane says is best.

• $50-$100 Donations to support the Robinson Moreta Bellard Scholarship (will tell the full story after I return)