Cross Border Health Kits
On Sunday, January 24, 2010 the “Haiti Health Kits” were introduced to the Cassopolis United Methodist Church as an avenue to helping the earthquake victims of Haiti. The congregation was encouraged to look at the sample kit in the fellowship hall and bring finished kits back the next Sunday so they could be shipped to Haiti. Jerry Garber, a parishioner and a counselor at Millersburg Elementary School in Millersburg, IN, decided to take the “Health Kit” idea and run with it.
Originally, he was going to buy items for and put together about 50 kits, but when he shared the project with the principal and staff at his school, it was decided that this was a project that the school could do. The students and staff of Millersburg Elementary, about 453 people, raised close to $2,500 in 4 days and donated 250 kits. Items were purchased and donated, then, each classroom had the opportunity to assemble the kits.
It was rewarding for the students and the staff to be able to help others in such a small way. Some of the students made comments such as “Helping others makes people feel like a better person,” “My whole family felt good that we could help someone else because we have also been on the receiving side when people helped us,” and “I felt called to give my money.”
Mr. Garber has a soft spot in his heart for the people of Haiti. He did volunteer service for three years in Haiti so he understands their culture and customs. He stated, “If I was retired, I would be down there right now helping put lives and communities back together.” He is glad to be able to organize the “Health Kit” effort and was thankful that the Cassopolis UMC made this opportunity available. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when ideas are presented, God speaks to his people, and his people listen and respond.