Life can get so busy that we often forget there are people in need all around us. It is not intentional, but with our hectic day-to-day lives, we rush through never stopping to notice the pain in our neighbor’s eyes.

Last month I was privileged to get to take a sobering look at the needs around me. I went with a group called Mission Discovery to Port-de-Paix, Haiti, to work in an orphanage.

Talking with members of our community, everyone wanted to give to the cause. FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital’s Clarke NICU donated T-shirts from previous NICU reunions. A local dentist, Dr. Wellener, donated boxes of toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss. Many from the community pulled out their checkbooks ready to help. What compassion!

Through generous contributions we were able to purchase medical supplies, clothing, toys for the children and medications.

Group member Jan Picerno purchased 80 Haitian Bibles for the trip. People lined up to get their hands on one. Every child at the orphanage received one. During the trip, we had a clinic day, as we had three registered nurses in our group: Kara Oldham, Jan Picerno and myself.

There were 17 in our group from several states. From North Carolina, our group included Chatham County Commissioner Walter Petty, Albert Gonzales, Kristie Allred, and the nurses mentioned above.

There are currently 34 children in the orphanage but room for 60. It’s not full due to lack of sponsors. It costs $155 per month to sponsor a child to live in the orphanage, or $30 per month to sponsor a child for school. If you are interested, please contact Rich Rohde through Mission Discovery.

Back home, I don’t want to become comfortable and forget there are those going without. Thank you to everyone who gave. You made a difference that week!

Jennifer Bowyer

Aberdeen