Getting Close/Eric Campbell!

Editors note: We are so close to are goal with only a few short weeks to go.  We are still about $2,000 short.  If you gave, we urge you to give again.  This will truly make a huge difference.

What this trip means to me.

     I often encounter this question on why we do these philanthropic ventures. I have often received various amounts of feedback ranging from a desire to impress someone, to answering a call that was made. I will let the psychologist and philosophers delve into the depth of the how’s and why’s we unconsciously decide to help those in need. My answer to this query is simple: it needs to be done.

Looking back on my own accomplishments I’ve had so far, I can attribute a majority of them to those who stood up and helped me when I needed it. Not to say it could not have been done on my own, but when someone gets to a wall that is just a bit too big to get over, the little bit of help makes the difference.

     Now I understand that this project will not be the end all to the problems that are out there in the Dominican Republic; however, I do sincerely believe that if what we do here has the potential to help someone, then the answer to whether we should do this or not is simple.

Lets do this.

Reflections from Siyani Fullerton

As December begins, we are just about a month away from our departure to the Dominican, and I have been reflecting on what I hope to gain from the experience of this trip. Having gone to Catholic schools for most of my life, community service has always been stressed as something that should be a regular part of our life. I feel that this trip is going to give all of us a view of extreme poverty that we probably have never seen before. We will be living where we work, experiencing exactly what the locals live day-in and day-out, meaning that we will have a true understanding of third world poverty, not just numbers and statistics.

Why are we doing this?

As a Catholic, I am always called to serve the individuals of various communities, especially those who are less fortunate than I am. When I was approached about joining a mission trip to the Dominican Republic in conjunction with Sigma Chi, I immediately enlisted knowing that this would be a wonderful opportunity to help members of one of the poorer communities in the Dominican Republic, L’Elmo.  By helping to re-build the community center in this small Dominican village, I am looking forward to not only getting the chance to provide a much needed service to the local community, but also to having the opportunity to broaden my horizons and gain a better understanding of the conditions of communities similar to L’Elmo throughout the world.

Growing up in a middle class family in the United States has been a privilege, and I thank God everyday for the wonderful opportunities that I have been given.  However, I also feel as though my experience living in a first-world country has sheltered me from some of the realities of the “real” world.  One of these realities includes understanding the poverty and suffering extant in a number of less fortunate communities throughout second and third-world countries. L’Elmo is one such community.  While I understand that participating in this mission trip will not solve the economic problems prevalent in the Dominican Republic or even L’Elmo, I am excited about having the chance to positively influence a community in need.  In doing so, I hope that this trip will not only help me open my eyes to the suffering that takes place communities such as L’Elmo, but that it will also help me better appreciate the smaller things in life.

~Jeff Anderson

One of the major reasons for me to attend this trip to the Dominican Republic is to expand my horizons. I feel that often we are engulfed by our everyday routines and our everyday worries, we lose perspective on what life actually is and how it actually works. Often I feel that we forget how fortunate we all are and we stress endlessly on things that are insignificant in the greater scope. By going to a place like Dominican Republic, and helping those who are truly in need will absolutely help me as well as the rest of our group to see just how life works outside of our usually scope of familiarity. I think not only can we bring our values as well as our most precious convictions to aid those in need, we can learn from them a perspective that can truly help us in pursuing a greater path of service to others. 

~Pete Zhang

Excitement and Nerves

Hey guys,
Sitting at the raffle table right now. Getting ready for a day of selling tickets and talking up the trip. We have some really great prizes from all over the Rochester community. When going out and asking for these prizes, it was nice to see an outpouring of generosity, especially considering the fact that nearly every place we asked is already giving to other organizations.

Much like the businesses in rochester, everyone involved in this project has plenty of other things going on in their life. The brothers of old, and the family and friends of those attending have been an immense help. Without them we would never have been able to do this. I cannot begin to express how grateful we are for their gifts.

I, too, have projects and events of my own. I am completing a double major in Economics and Psychology. My focus has been primarily on psychology for several years now. I currently do research in the med center on suicide prevention and documentation. My mentor and myself hope to implement a training that helps clinician assess suicide risk, and ultimately help the patients they serve. For me, helping others has not always been in my nature, but it is certainly something I strive for.

I have lofty ideals and I have been an active member of Sigma Chi since my initiation, with positions including assistent magister (assistant pledge master) and pro consul (vice president). I felt compelled to spread our lofty ideals when Father Cool brought up the idea of this trip.

I am amazed how far we have gotten in such a short time; I can't believe this plan is actually coming to fruition. I am excited for what is to come.

In Hoc

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How safe is the area we’re going to be?
L'Elmo is a small town of 4000 people. Americans are always most welcomed by the people here. Our safety will not be an issue in the town. The capital of Santo Domingo, enriched by the drug trade, is not safe.

2. What immunizations do we need?
We will need to be vaccinated for Tetanus and Typhoid Fever. Malaria is not present in the region.

3. Where exactly will we be staying during our visit?
We will be staying in local houses, with Dominican families.

4. Exactly where is this town located?
Near the larger community of Monte Plata. The town is called Don Juan, northwest of Santo Domingo

5. What will we be eating?
The local diet: their main meal is rice, beans, and chicken, supplemented with fruits and vegetables.

6. How are we going to get safe water?
Drinking water will be bought and the cost of it will be figured in the expenses of the trip.

7. How will we go about constructing the building?
Local builders have been hired to guide us in our construction of the building. All our materials will be bought locally and shipped out.

8. Is this the first trip of its kind in the community?
No, Father Gaesser has been bringing groups down for the last several years, adults and teenagers and last May, 17 people from Cornell University came.

9. What if there is an accident and we get hurt?
The private medical system here is very good and comparable to the United States. We will not be far from a private hospital.

Progress!

So far, we have raised $3,000 of the necessary $14,000.  We are continuing to get prizes for the raffle, and it looks like it's going to be a huge success.  We are planning a bowling evening in a few weeks, and hope to raise more money in the future.  If you would like to donate online, you can use the Newman Community Paypal, which is again, tax-deductible.  

Getting there!

Well we are off and running. Trying to raise some $14,000 in under three months and working with college students who have a demanding schedule is very challenging indeed.

Last night seven gathered to stuff, seal and mail 1,000 appeal letters! Wow! We hope we have some right addresses!

Right now people have been very generous. We have raised about $2,000 in just over a week. A long way to go but we are off on the right foot. Gifts range from $50 to $500!

Each student was asked to contribute the names and addresses of 10 people they know who might contribute. I sat down and did the same. It is humbling to ask for money from others. Yet, the more I thought of it, the more I was literally excited to include them in a worthwhile cause. Think about it...how often do we have the direct opportunity to transform someone's life by a donation which many can make without changing the way we ourselves live?

I am grateful and excited for this trip and I can see it already changing our students!