Student Kits Distributed after Hurricane Hits Dominican Republic

September 30, 2022

Midwest Mission Student Kits Distributed after Hurricane Fiona Hits Dominican Republic

On Monday, Sept. 19, Hurricane Fiona slammed into the Northern coast of the Dominican Republic, leaving devastation in its path from extreme flash-flooding and heavy winds.

In a statement released about the hurricane, Food For The Poor, our international partner, reported, “The storm damaged 54 homes, downed trees and power lines and forced 800 people to evacuate. At least 59 aqueducts were out of service, leaving more than 1 million people in the Dominican Republic without running water, according to the country’s emergency management officials.”

Because they know what to prepare for when a disaster happens, not if, Food For The Poor pre-stages disaster relief kits in 10 countries every March. The supplies included are donated by Midwest Mission and other non-profits. Each non-profit supplies one item, and sends the items to Food For The Poor by February. Then, a pallet of each item is sent to each of the 10 countries to begin pre-staging. Because of this, Food For The Poor had pre-positioned two of their disaster relief kits in the Dominican Republic and within a few hours of the hurricane’s landfall, they were ready to distribute relief.

According to Food For The Poor, “Each kit contains enough supplies to support 250 families, including tarps, disaster blankets, children’s activity kits, women’s care kits, oral rehydration solutions, water purification packets, hand-crank emergency radio flashlights, diapers and heavy-duty bags that in-country partners use to package individual kits for each family.”

Families received Midwest Mission Student Kits as part of their relief supplies. Our Student Kits include three notebooks, six pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser, a pair of scissors, 12 colored pencils, a box of 24 crayons, a ruler, and a prayer coloring sheet.

Although they have lost a lot, students will have the resources needed to continue learning and to be creative, even in the midst of disaster. They will also know they have been prayed for - before the disaster even started - by someone they may never meet.

Special Requests Shipped to Jamaica

Earlier this month, Food For The Poor Jamaica sent a special request for school supplies. After communicating with our FFTP representative, we decided to send our Student Kits filled with notebooks, crayons, pencils, colored pencils, rulers, pencil sharpeners, erasers, scissors, and prayer coloring sheets.

On Sept. 21, the container arrived and we filled it with 2,800 Student Kits, valued at $44,800.

The school supplies are on their way to Spanish Town, Jamaica. Student Kits equip children with the tools necessary to be better learners and to begin to create better opportunities as they grow.

Prayers to Lift Up

Please pray for those who have been affected by Hurricane Fiona, and for those who are affected by Hurricane Ian. Pray that disaster relief will reach those who need it.

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by."

Psalm 57:1-2

Midwest Mission Weekly Project

Work of the Mission Volunteers

Projects completed

80 Student Kits
113 Feminine Hygiene Kits
30 Layette Kits
1210 Personal Dignity Kits (PDK)
432 UMCOR Cleaning Kits
1800 Rice Meals
600 Mahomet UMC, Mahomet, IL
1200 Avon UMC, Avon, IN

Other work done

Student Desks - wood processed and poly applied
Repaired bikes

Counted items into inventory
Grounds keeping
Sorted Outfits
Repaired Sewing Machines
Painting
Sewing

Disbursements

Food for the Poor, Spanish Town, Jamaica Student Kits (see above story) Value: $44,800.00
Kendall County Food Pantry, Yorkville, IL: redirected cleaning supplies Value: $240.00
Chatham Micropantry, Chatham, IL: redirected hygiene supplies Value: $50.00

*Redirected items are those items received that do not fit into the parameters of our kits and projects.

Midwest Mission is able to do this work because of your generous donations and willingness to volunteer. Thank you!

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