Dominican Republic 2024

During the Thanksgiving break, the Medical Mission team and several groups of family volunteers worked with the local team Fundación La Merced in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Approximately eight families, with about 25 volunteers, traveled to the Dominican Republic, and this mission was done on Thanksgiving Day as a reflection of gratitude. The team consists of several young and high school children who worked on projects before coming, such as collecting hats, clothing, soccer, and baseball equipment.

We collaborated with the local non-profit organization Fundación La Merced, which is doing a fantastic job with plastic recycling to keep the community clean, prevent child labor, offer education classes, meals, and a safe space, and teach skills for meaningful employment. We were joined by 15 local youth volunteers who assisted us during the day. The mission team mailed numerous boxes and suitcases of supplies to be donated.

Our organization donated medical equipment, including a new laptop computer, stethoscope, ENT diagnostic kit, and BP machines, to assist with equipment for the local medical office.

In addition, we donated approximately 300 backpacks with notebooks, pens, pencils, hats, hygiene supplies, and other supplies.

We also donated 30 food boxes to needy families in the community on Thanksgiving day so they could have a family meal. We also had candy and sports supplies such as soccer balls, baseballs, and other equipment to the delight of the local children.

Before distributing the supplies, our team broke into four groups to interact with the children, including playing a basketball game where the local side humbled us.

The STEM demonstration of capillary action by Ms. Shivani was a hit, and plans are in progress for her Robotics team, Roboboogie, to form more interaction.

We also attended the children’s dance class and had lessons in the local Latino dance style of bachata and merengue.

This mission was a success; we were humbled and felt welcomed and appreciated by the local organization, the children, and the community, who all expressed gratitude for this mission. Our donations will have a meaningful impact, and we hope to continue our collaboration soon. The children in attendance all had a good time and worked hard during the preparation day, sorting supplies and preparing backpacks with supplies; they gained valuable life lessons seeing how the supplies, especially their toys, clothing, and sports equipment they collected, are now being used and appreciated by the local children.

After the mission, we traveled together the next day to bond and debrief. The following day, we visited the old capital, Zona Colonial, strolling and buying local souvenirs, and visited the cathedral and the presidential palace.  The sergeant recognized the mission shirts and was appreciative of our service. Afterward, we stopped for delicious local coconut water and saw the pope’s mobile and the monument built to commemorate the Pope’s Visits to the island in January 1979.

Thanks to all our administrator directors who worked tirelessly to plan and find a suitable local partner to work with. To the volunteers and their families who traveled during the busy Thanksgiving holiday and solicited donations for sports equipment, hats, monetary contributions, and many more supplies. Everyone carried several suitcases of supplies, was excited to participate, and was looking forward to the next mission