As some of you may know, I have spent the past five Junes envious of my friend Scott Fried, listening to his amazing stories when he arrives home from his charitable trips to Honduras. This year I finally get to participate.
He and I—along with two teachers, two master carpenters, and a pediatrician—will be heading there (to Honduras) for two weeks in June to go do some good.
One of the greatest challenges families on the island of Roatan face is finding housing security and hygienic living conditions. These families lie in poverty and are unable to afford land to build homes for their families. What’s more is that it is difficult for those without education and transportation to obtain or keep a job. The end result: many families are living in slums with no running water, sewers or steady electricity. In the past, this team has not only stabilized and rebuilt several houses, giving people real exterior walls and roofs that didn’t leak for the first time, but also bought land and built homes from scratch. You can read more about how the project began here. Last year’s project is pictured above.
This year, we have two missions:
First is to build a home from the ground up for a single mother, Leslie, and her 7 children. She supports her family selling tortillas she makes on a clay oven she built herself. She is lucky if she makes $5 of profits per day.
The second plan is to build a staircase to the top of a steep hill. It’s something that is truly needed, and would benefit at least 7-10 families who use the hill every day.
This project is funded by our ability to raise money! These funds will be used to buy the land, and pay for all of the housing supplies (wood, paint, cement) as well as cover costs for the local construction help. This would mean raising only $700 per team member, each who are paying our own way to Roatan including airfare, food, and lodging.
With your help we will be able to touch many lives in this short period of time! I know times are tough, but any contribution you could make to our mission would be especially welcome. Having one less cocktail at happy hour, or skipping your Starbucks for a week means having an extra $5-$15 that you could donate to our cause. No amount is too small!
Temple Beth El in Northbrook Illinois has been nice enough to set up a discretionary fund for this project, so your donation will be 100% tax deductible. The easiest way to donate is though PayPal, you can send the money directly to my account via morganholzer@gmail.com. If you would like me to arrange for a tax receipt (to be sent in December 2012), please email with your current address. Checks can also be sent to the address below.
Thanks again so much for helping me meet and hopefully exceed my fundraising goal of $700!
Temple Beth El - Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Note on check: Honduras Project
3610 Dundee Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
11 months ago
