While we had a great night together, the purpose for the event was to raise funds for our various projects in Haiti. We were very unsure of what we could accomplish. None of us are event planners and requesting donations is always uncomfortable for us. A few weeks before the event, we thought we may have 50 people in attendance and possibly break even on costs to have the event. God had other plans and He amazed all of us at Made to Love. With the support of sponsors, donors, attendees and friends, we raised $10,704 on that night! Just an amazing total that opens up so many opportunities for Made to Love and our work in Haiti. It was so special to see all the ways people gave, from donating food to products for basket raffles, and giving funds. We had large gifts and we had small gifts, but they all make an impact. It was special to see donations that came from kids giving just a few dollars, knowing that they gave what they could and it will still make an impact.
So, what now… we have already sent $5,000 to Kelly to begin work on the building project in Charye. This was seen as the #1 need by Odilon, the village leader. I look forward to being in Haiti in late June for another graduating class of 6th graders and am excited to see what progress will already be made on the building. We have sent the funds that were earmarked for Kelly, and will be sending more in coming weeks and months. We also had funds to support a special event at the Garden of Eden school in Charye for Flag Day. Over the coming weeks and months, the Made to Love Board will work with Kelly and Odilon to prioritize the projects and send funds to the various items, like sponsorships, meals, the fish project, desks and books.
From all of us at Made to Love, to all of you that supported us in any way, THANK YOU! No matter if you donated and attended, or simply shared our massive amounts of posts (lol), you helped to make that night a success. All $10,704 dollars will go to Haiti and be used to change lives for the better, and we could not have done it without each and every one of you!
-Shari Miller
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We have been working step by step on the school in Charye for a few years now. Growing from a small literacy school of 36 kids to a K-5 of 300 kids has been a pretty amazing journey. Along the way we have found that there are a lot of needs, in order to provide a place for kids to learn. From books, to teachers, to shoes…. but especially a facility. Teaching this many kids requires a proper place for them to learn, complete with desks and chalkboards and a roof over their head to keep them out of the hot Haiti sun. Every step of the way, we have seen God come through by bringing people into our lives just when we needed them. The money has always shown up when a new building project was needed. We have always had just enough, sometimes down to the very penny. When we started planning for what was next, we again asked God to show us what He needed us to do. We trusted He would provide a way. The challenge was that there were multiple major needs. More classroom space is needed for the growing school, more teachers to teach the kids now and in the future and a playground. All of those needs add up to a lot of money for us to find.
The school addition was projected to cost $6,800, a modest cost for two classrooms, a cafeteria and storage space to protect books and other essentials, yet still daunting for us. The teachers are being paid through sales at Made to Love and several great sponsors that help fund this program for $25 a month. Adding more classrooms and teachers will cost more, making it harder to take on special projects. Then, there was this big dream of a playground. Picturing these kids playing and having fun makes me tear up just writing the words. Of all the needs, this would be the most expensive at $10,000 for the smallest playset with installation. This seems the least important when compared to educating kids and providing jobs to teachers. Our mission is that, education and jobs. Playgrounds are extras that would take a back seat. In February, we had this big fundraising event called, “Shoot for the Moon.” We wanted to provide some added support to our wonderful missionary Dr. Kelly Crowdis who does so much for us, but receives little funding from us. All our funds usually go to the schools and artisans. We also had this goal of raising some funds to help with a special project. We didn’t know if it would be classrooms or the playground. We were leaving that up to God to decide where it should go. On this special night in February, 237 of our friends showed up and helped us to raise $8,100. We were able to gift Kelly with $2,600 and had a great start towards the special project with $5,500.
We still did not completely know what we were going to do, but God was working all of that out. Over the last few years, we have watched an organization based in Cincinnati do amazing things in Haiti. They are call Restavek Freedom (www.restavekfreedom.org). They work to end child slavery in Haiti. We have wanted to reach out to them for years, but something always got in the way. We felt like they would be a perfect fit to speak at our event about what they do in Haiti. Dr. Kelly works closely with their founder Joan Conn in Haiti, especially recently after Hurricane Matthew. Kelly urged us to reach out and make contact with Joan. She graciously said she would attend, it actually fell in a window between trips to Haiti. We were excited just to meet her and get to know her and Restavek. Her being there helped to bring God’s plan all together. Joan reached out to a church in Pennsylvania that Restavek works with and she vouched for Made to Love and the work we were doing. They contacted us for a little information and next thing we know, Life Church in Allentown, PA (www.lifechurchlv.org) is committing to buy us a large playground from Kids Around the World (www.kidsaroundtheworld.com). This will be the single largest donation Made to Love has ever received to date. The playground will cost between $15,000-$20,000 with purchase and shipping. From a Church we did not know, through a friend we had just made.
That is all God.
We had even contacted Kids Around the World previously to get an idea on prices for a project like this. We thought at best, we could try to get a medium sized playground due to the costs, but we were afraid it wouldn’t be large enough or durable enough for the kids. In the coming weeks and months, we will be working with Life Church and Kelly to plan a time in the fall to install this for the kids. In the meantime, due to this church and their amazing gift, we sent the $5,500 that was raised (plus $100 more we received randomly) to Kelly so Odilon and the others in Charye can start the work on the school now.
No need to wait for God to show us what that money is meant for, He already did!
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Made to Love found a new way to raise funds in the fall of 2014…we had a demo crew tear down a barn (small shed actually, but that doesn’t sound as cool). That seems like a strange and unlikely way for us to help Haiti. We are typically telling our story, selling our products, politely begging…just kidding about that last one. The opportunity presented itself, and we took it. We believe God laid it on someone’s heart to give, so they gave. I was able to put together a crew of fellow firefighters from the Hamilton Fire Department, and we had it torn down in no time at all.
This really got me thinking about how we can all give. Typically when someone says donation, you think immediately of money. I believe that is just a piece of the pie. You can give your time; you can give your talents. That day these guys didn’t give any money, but they gave up their time and absolutely used their talents (I didn’t know how to tear down a barn). The truth is that not all people can give money, and that is okay. I wonder if giving of time and talents can be harder than giving your treasure. If you have the money to give, isn’t it easy to just write a check and move on? This is a question that can really be relevant to ask yourself before going on a short-term missions trip.
Would my funds for the trip be better utilized if given for a cause as opposed to being used for me to go? That is a hard question, but let me give you an answer that I lean on. This came from David Platt and his book “Radical.” David was speaking with a man in the Sudan. This man described how thankful they are for the aid they receive and how it blesses them. He goes onto say that they appreciate David being there more than the aid sent, “a true brother comes to us in our time of need, and you are a true brother.”
My Brothers from HFD Local 20 were true Brothers that day when they helped me in my time of need. Little did they know that their gift, combined with some other unexpected gifts would help build a school in Haiti that houses 120 kids each day (will share more about that at a later time). They didn’t know that a few short months later that school building would be completed and some other Brothers and a Sister from Local 20 would be standing in it while serving on a medical mission in Haiti. None of us know what God will do with the things we give in His name. You can rest assured that He has a great plan for each and every one of you!
Unorthodox giving can become something very unexpected…..
2 Corinthians 9:10
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Tony Harris
Co-Founder of Made to Love
What a wonderful day this was in the Village of Charye. This small, but mighty place in the Artibonite Valley of Haiti had an amazing delivery on this 22nd day of October 2016. This was many months in the making, and literally took a lot of people to make it happen. From our friends at Rebuild Globally (http://rebuildglobally.org) in Haiti, who work to employ Haitians to make these shoes and other beautiful items out of recycled materials, literally turning trash into treasures. To our missionary, the amazing Kelly Crowdis and her efforts to always provide a sustainable need for those in Haiti, who said this was a major need for the kids in this village. Finally, to all of those who either donated specifically for this project or bought products that helped us to provide the funds, it literally took a village to raise the funds to buy 214 pairs of shoes for the 214 kids. This was a $7,500 dream that just became a reality.
What does it mean to have this “Shoe Day in Charye?”
It means kids that walk as much as an hour a day to get to school will now have a good pair of shoes to walk in. They are durable and guaranteed by Rebuild Globally for a year. They are made of recycled tires and plastic, leading to less garbage in Haiti. It provides funds and work for Rebuild Globally and there Haitian workers. It is an all-around win for everyone involved. I waited all day to see the updates, and as I looked at the pictures and videos as they came in I could only smile. To see the kids excited about these shoes and watch them proudly try them on and wear them, I could only think of the blessing they are feeling. While it may only seem like a pair of shoes, it is more than that. I watched Odilon (leader in this village) speak to the kids and parents, and I know he is giving all of the credit to God for this blessing. So now the joy these kids are feeling glorifies God. They see that He provided the opportunity to make this happen. They see how this small village that cannot be found on many maps, was chosen for such a blessing. They feel loved and cared for, by God first and foremost, but also by all of those He used to make this happen. From the person that bought a $5 bracelet, to the donor that gave money to Kelly and onto the very hands that made this shoe for that child. Every piece of the chain being vitally important, and without this varied group of people, these 214 kids would not be in a new pair of shoes tonight. So tonight, kids feel loved….and that should make us all feel good. Love is all that matters in the end. Today, we did a good job loving!
Shoe Day in Charye!
Thank you for partnering with us!
Tony Harris
This trip to Haiti was so very different for me. Every time I go to Haiti, I am changed. I never really know what to expect. This trip I was overwhelmed with how happy I was to be there. I loved the hot weather, the bugs, the smells, the people and even stuff I can not even begin to describe. I felt like my heart and soul was at peace. It has been a year and a half since my last trip. My soul has longed to be there. I thanked God every second for sending me to Haiti, for allowing me to do a little bit of work for him there. I am not always this way. In fact, our first trip to Haiti was not at all what I wanted to do. Our first trip was not very easy. I actually went kicking and screaming (metaphorically, of course). I felt God tapping me on the shoulder early in 2012. Our Pastor had asked us to commit to 40 days of fasting and praying. I gave this fast the most basic participation possible. I did not pray like I was supposed to because I knew God was trying to tell me something really big. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to hear it. I was so comfortable making these shirts in my basement and taking them to craft shows. The United States is safe and comfortable. I was technically following God. But, I knew He was calling Christin and I to a deeper place with Him. It is so hard when He is calling us to grow and stretch. Our 40 days passed and I sat with my fingers in my ears. One evening I met Christin at church for youth group. I sat down beside her and she looked at me with tears in her eyes and a sick look on her face. She said, “We have to go to Haiti!!” As soon as the words left her mouth, I knew that is what God was trying to tell me. That May, Tony, Christin, my Dad and I went to Haiti. It was not an easy trip. But, God was speaking to me every second of those few days. He was calling us to be all in. All in with Made to Love and all in with him. God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to be obedient. That is all I have ever wanted to be. God knows I am stubborn, and thank God he is patient. I am so thankful God let me be a part of Made to Love and Haiti. I thank Him everyday for the Made to Love family and the beautiful place he has given us in Hamilton. Most of all, I thank Him for the change he has created in my heart. When he speaks, I try my best to listen.
“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak for your servant is listening.” And the Lord said to Samuel: “See I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it tingle.” 1 Samuel 3:10-11
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People do things for many reasons. Some to pursue an interest. Some to answer a calling on their lives. Some to follow a passion. When all three converge, a miracle occurs and you are Made to Love
How much do you get paid for this?
That is a question I have heard a number of times since we started this ministry to Haiti. It is a fair question to ask because we do sell a product that makes a profit. It is a fair question to ask because people can be skeptical of any organization saying, “100% of the profits go to (insert the need here).” It sounds like a tagline to drum up sales. We ask people to buy from us because of what we do with the money. So I have never had a problem answering these questions, and actually enjoy getting to share. When someone asks me this question, they open the door for me to share my heart and my passion with them. I can honestly, openly, and candidly tell someone where our money goes because it all goes where we say it goes.
Why do you do this?
The reason this ministry is so vital and important to us is what these funds provide the person being supported, and the people who support us. We believe that education empowers people and creates growth in a person. By offering a way for a child to be educated, we show them God’s love. When we buy a product from one of our artisans, a street vendor, or an organization that employs artisans, we create jobs. Good jobs in Haiti are scarce, which leads to a lower quality of life in Haiti. When we share the story of this mission to people here in the United States, we hope to open hearts and minds to a situation they can change. We believe that when people give, they are the ones most affected by giving. A change occurs in your heart when you help someone else, especially someone you will probably never know.
We do this because God has laid it on our hearts to do it. He turned my world upside down and inside out on my very first day in Haiti. He allowed me to see the situation in Haiti through His eyes. The need for funds for education was so apparent. Like Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” This is not to puff out my chest and say, ” Look what God has done for me.” We are saved by faith, and faith alone. The works here on this earth are just the fruits of our faith. I am not worthy of the ministry that God has called me to, and I am completely unqualified for this ministry He has given me. I have heard it said that “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” All I did was answer the call, God has done the rest.
So where does the money go?
It is only fair to actually answer the question that led me to write this post. I was blown away in January when I sat down and totaled the money that Made to Love received from sales and donations in 2013. A total of $18,520 came into the ministry this past year, but I am even prouder to say that $17,819 went right back out. Nearly $7,650 went to help fund 104 kids going to school. In most cases we provide only partial scholarships, so this is a helping hand and not a handout. Another $4,983 went towards paying artisans directly or buying from organizations that employ artisans in Haiti. The rest of the money is used for materials like yarn, fabric, and shirts ($1845), booth fees for our Craft shows ($1,970), legal paperwork and other administrative costs ($933), and paying sales tax ($437). Not one cent went to paying Shari, Christin, or myself. At some point, my prayer is that this ministry is so productive and busy that we have to employ people on a part-time or full-time basis, but we are not there yet. When you buy from us, donate to us, or support us in anyway, we do not take that lightly. It is very special to us and very important. We guard those acts with our hearts. I will close with this verse of scripture as it has become a special verse to me as God stretches me and guides me to give more and change my idea of the “American Dream.” Trust Him.
Luke 12:32-34
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Tony Harris
Co-Founder of Made to Love