Boca Grande Readies for 5th Village

Boca Grande Committee Prepares for an Evening of Fun and Philanthropy

	The Boca Grande Hope For Haitians Committee partnered with Food For The Poor to build its fourth Friendship Village in Pon Batay, Haiti, which included 32 two-bedroom homes with water and sanitation. The Hope for Haitians Committee also will reveal plans for its fifth village in Gressier, Haiti, during its annual fundraiser in Boca Grande, Fla., on Feb. 25.
Related Items: Watch: Five Years After the Quake See Photos of Families in Haiti

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2015) – The Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee will celebrate the completion of its fourth Friendship Village in Pon Batay, Haiti, and also will reveal plans for its fifth village in Gressier, Haiti, during its annual fundraiser in Boca Grande, Fla., on Feb. 25.

“Nearly 200 people are living in sturdy homes in Pon Batay village, with water and sanitation thanks to the generous support of the Boca Grande Committee. This village is a tremendous blessing for these families. Words cannot express the gratitude of this ministry, along with the gratitude of the recipients of these beautiful homes,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor.

As the committee gathers in celebration of their latest project, Hope for Haitians Chairman Ben Scott says he’s prayerfully confident he will get the support needed to complete their fifth village of 30 houses. These homes will be built for struggling families living in Gressier, a coastal community located between Port-au-Prince and Leogane. The region suffered a devastating blow when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake of 2010 destroyed nearly 50 percent of the area’s buildings. Temporary shelters donated right after the earthquake are deteriorating around the families living inside these structures.

“We can't stop now. Even after five years, we still have thousands living in tents and these conditions are not good, in fact they are deplorable. That is why we must continue,” said Scott.

Boca Grande Committee member Colvin McCrady, who has traveled with Scott and Food For The Poor to Haiti, will address the attendees at the event with his first hand impression of what he saw in the tent cities two years ago, and why permanent housing is so vitally important in helping the people of Haiti to rebuild their lives.

“We’re shocked and our hearts just go out to these people, my wife and I were shocked by the tent cities. Seeing so many families living in these conditions breaks our heart,” said McCrady, on the trip in Jan. 2013.

The Hope for Haitians Committee began working with Food For The Poor and building homes built through the international relief and development organization in 2009, and has built villages for families in Pierre Payen, Michaud, Manneville, and Pon Batay, Haiti. The villages in Pierre Payen and Michaud also received recent upgrades. These included a security wall and play area for the elementary school in Pierre Payen.

“Kindness is contagious. Once you start the process, others around you also are inspired to give, not only of their resources, but also of time. Food For The Poor is very thankful to have the support of Ben Scott, the Boca Grande Committee members and the generous community there,” said Aloma. 

The Boca Grande Committee cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception will be on Feb. 25, 2015, at 6 p.m. at the historic Gasparilla Inn Beach Club, located at 445 Gilchrist Ave. in Boca Grande, Fla. There also will be an exclusive silent auction of Haitian artwork.

Click www.FoodForThePoor.org/earthquakevideo to watch a video about some of the projects Food For The Poor has implemented in Haiti in the five years since the earthquake struck.

Committee members include: Chairmen Ben and Louise Scott, the Rev. Gary Beatty, the Rev. Brian Brightly, the Rev. Jerome Carosella, the Rev. Michelle Robertshaw, George and Lois Castrucci, Patricia Chapman, Randy and Sue Eddy, Charlie and Florita Field, Evelyn Finnegan, Lou and Corie Fusz, Stephen and Susan Jansen, Mick and Susan Johnson, Tom and Nancy Lorden, Colvin and Madelaine McCrady, Peter and Elsa Soderberg.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.