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Njswim donates Shoes to Haiti
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In August of last year, I decided that I would rejoin my group of friends from the United States Swim Schools, Association, in the annual Champions Club Retreat & Workshop. I had gone to the first two events but have missed the last three. I booked the cruise retreat from Miami south to Labadee Haiti and Ocho Rios Jamaica. The Champions club provides me with a unique opportunity to share ideas and spend some quality time with our country's swim school developers. With this dynamic group, it is always a fulfilling experience.
When disaster struck Haiti last month, I figured the trip would be cancelled or at least, re-routed. I was made to understand from my colleagues that the ship stopping is necessary to the local economy. It was also an opportunity to bring supplies through an undamaged port. Still, with that, I had mixed emotions about visiting in a country that suffered so much grief.
After meeting with transplanted Haitian woman here, she convinced me to go, and eased my mind by giving me this: She told me that her children were packing up shoes, with notes of hope and love and sending them to the children of Haiti. Wow.
I called upon the families of Njswim to help me in this effort and they did. We have since collected fifteen 50lb boxes of children's shoes, from our kids to theirs, with love, to Haiti.
With the help of some little souls with giant hearts, we packed a duffle filled with shoes for me to take. I was able to deliver the duffel to an envoy that was loading supplies from the big boat to Port au Prince. I spoke with some locals whose demeanor was one of resonance not despair, gratitude not grief. Many of the good folks I spoke with lost family in the earthquake. Some gained children through the process.
The experience was one I will not forget. Thank you to all of the families in our Njswim Village! Thanks to our great team who managed the process. We will be delivering the rest of the shoes to a cargo ship headed to Haiti on Thursday.
All good things,
HJ
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| Lobster anyone? |
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| Local band |
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| Packing up |
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| Still packing! |
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| Ready to Go! |
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