Spring Lake Woman Involved in a Great Cause

We suffered plenty of our own losses when so many homes were destroyed after Superstorm Sandy. But imagine if, 6 years after a disaster, you still didn't have anywhere to live. Or your kids couldn't go to school.

Today marks the 6th anniversary of the devastating earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.0, that struck Haiti, killing more than 160,000 and displacing close to 1.5 million people.

In a third world country (and Haiti is one of the poorest in the world), just a couple dollars of our money can provide so much there that we take for granted here.

Homes and schools still need to be built, supplies are needed to help kids go to school that would otherwise not have the opportunity, children need hot meals, clothing and shoes, and so much more.

Knowing Monmouth County's Diane Rexrode and her big heart, she was asked to be on the board of a non-profit called "Hope Changes Everything". This non-profit group is bringing hope to children and their families by sponsoring educational programs for the kids in Haiti.

(Photo from HCE)

Diane has left the comfort of her Spring Lake home many, many times to travel to Haiti, sometimes with many locals from our area churches, to get her hands dirty building homes and sharing her love and joy with the children that have so little.

To see these little ones still smiling and laughing when they don't have anything close to the luxuries we take for granted is a testament to Diane's commitment.

Here's what Diane says:

"I’ve been to Haiti over half a dozen times in the past 4 years. On my first trip, I cried and prayed because it was so hard to leave. And asked God to help me heal my broken heart. And he did by sending me back year after year and then organizing Hope Changes Everything (HCE).

My first trips to Haiti started in 2011 when I was re-building “rubble houses” after the earthquake. That is when I met Silain “Tiga” Wildophe. He was our hospitality team leader. I met Renee Hunter through him, as she also was building houses. She noticed all the children who were not attending school, and she got the idea of sponsoring them so they can get an education. Tiga told her to contact me and we started organizing HCE.

Hope Changes Everything, founded in 2013, is a non-profit, Christ-centered organization equipping children around the globe to live to their fullest potential. We are currently sponsoring children in Haiti and hope to expand our reach. A quality education can give a child a chance to hope. Often, children living in poverty are unable to attend school and their opportunity for overcoming poverty is beyond their reach.

Hope Changes Everything helps provide education, uniforms, supplies, and in many cases a nutritious meal, partnering with local schools, church leaders and other organizations to provide the best opportunities available to children living in poverty.

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(Photo from HCE)