What's this all about?
Last summer 15 teens and chaperones from Central Jersey traveled to one of
the poorest sections of Tijuana, Mexico and worked to build two houses for
needy families. This summer,encouraged by that success, a group of 36 teens,
campus and adults from The Central NJ Church of Christ is planning to spend
seven days in the Dominican Republic helping the needy.
What are we going to do there?
The volunteers from Central will be spending half of each day at a Hope
International camp near the capitol of the Dominican Republic. They will be working
directly with children, teaching them English, helping them with reading and math,
playing, visiting and encouraging them. The remainder of the day will be spent
reaching out to the elderly and sick in senior homes and hospitals. The quality of
these facilities is nothing like the standards we have in the States. These people
are often living in the most deplorable of environments, forgotten and isolated.
Additional plans to the itinerary are currently being scheduled so that we can be of
help to as many people as possible in the time available.
What is the Church doing to help?
Central Jersey Church of Christ is covering eighty percent of all the cost associated
with sending 36 people, including airfare and housing or about $27,000 with each
volunteer paying the balance. In addition, the Church is also managing all of the
administrative costs of the trip. We have also established the "100 Days, 100
Backpacks" program in which we will be shipping 100 backpacks filled with school
supplies to the orphanage. These children are in desperate need for the most basic
of supplies, items we often take for granted. The goal is to provide at least 100 children
with the school supplies needed to get through the 2009-2010 school year. Everything
collected above the 100 Backpacks will also be sent to help the more than 200
children who participate in the camp.
What can you do to help?
Each backpack we send to the orphanage will contain: 3 spiral bound notebooks,
box #2 wood pencils, 6 ink pens, color markers, 2 coloring or activity book, sketch pad,
box of (64) crayons, calculator, pocket english dictionary, ruler and a small pencil sharpener.
Though monetary donations are always needed and appreciated, we are specifically
asking for donations of the items mentioned above. Also in need are toys, quality
clothing, soaps and shampoos. Corporations, members and friends who have an
interest in helping us meet the goal of "100 Days, 100 Backpacks" are asked to
contact psutton@cjcoc.org for donation information. All donations of supplies will be
administered by The Central Jersey Church of Christ.
