Just ask Anne Blandford and JoAnne Burns who are returning to the Dominican Republic this fall with West Jet’s Live Different team to build homes for those in need.
“I think it was one of the greatest experiences in my life,” said Burns of her 2014 trip to a small village in the Dominican where she and Blandford volunteered to build a home for a family.
Live Different is a Canadian grassroots organization that works with youth but also builds houses in impoverished communities such as Nuevo Renacer, which means New Life in English.
The women will help build three houses with 28 other volunteers from Nov. 10 to 19 when they return to Nuevo Renacer again this year.
Burns said they thought about going back again this year, but were put on a wait list because the spots had quickly filled up for the fall of 2015. However, she said, they were told in June two spots had opened up and they were keen to plan their trip.
They will build one house for five days with a tour of the new home on the sixth day.
The women are in the process of trying to raise $2,200 each in donations for Live Different. They have canvassed friends and through social media sites and are considering hosting a larger public event in the future.
She said so far many people have expressed interest in contributing to their fundraising effort, but money is slow to come in.
“We might end up having it at the 11th hour,” she said, adding both women understand that there are many charities asking for donations these days, many of which are right here in Pictou County.
However, she said, the entire experience has been life-changing for them and they are looking forward to returning to the village to see the progress made in the past year as well as meet new and old friends.
“You think you are going to do, but you get so much back,” Burns said. “For me, and probably for Anne, people are rewarded when they scratch one thing off, but we are able to do it twice in a life.”
Anyone wanting to donate to the two women’s trip can do so through the online website, www.canadahelps.org. Once on the site, click on friend fundraiser and look for their names.
Burns said all the donations go directly to the building of the homes. A receipt will be issued from that site as well. The women can also be reached at [email protected] and arrangements can be made for donations this way as well.
She said testimonials are also posted on the Live Different site so people can read about the work that was done during the November 2014 visit.
Just ask Anne Blandford and JoAnne Burns who are returning to the Dominican Republic this fall with West Jet’s Live Different team to build homes for those in need.
“I think it was one of the greatest experiences in my life,” said Burns of her 2014 trip to a small village in the Dominican where she and Blandford volunteered to build a home for a family.
Live Different is a Canadian grassroots organization that works with youth but also builds houses in impoverished communities such as Nuevo Renacer, which means New Life in English.
The women will help build three houses with 28 other volunteers from Nov. 10 to 19 when they return to Nuevo Renacer again this year.
Burns said they thought about going back again this year, but were put on a wait list because the spots had quickly filled up for the fall of 2015. However, she said, they were told in June two spots had opened up and they were keen to plan their trip.
They will build one house for five days with a tour of the new home on the sixth day.
The women are in the process of trying to raise $2,200 each in donations for Live Different. They have canvassed friends and through social media sites and are considering hosting a larger public event in the future.
She said so far many people have expressed interest in contributing to their fundraising effort, but money is slow to come in.
“We might end up having it at the 11th hour,” she said, adding both women understand that there are many charities asking for donations these days, many of which are right here in Pictou County.
However, she said, the entire experience has been life-changing for them and they are looking forward to returning to the village to see the progress made in the past year as well as meet new and old friends.
“You think you are going to do, but you get so much back,” Burns said. “For me, and probably for Anne, people are rewarded when they scratch one thing off, but we are able to do it twice in a life.”
Anyone wanting to donate to the two women’s trip can do so through the online website, www.canadahelps.org. Once on the site, click on friend fundraiser and look for their names.
Burns said all the donations go directly to the building of the homes. A receipt will be issued from that site as well. The women can also be reached at [email protected] and arrangements can be made for donations this way as well.
She said testimonials are also posted on the Live Different site so people can read about the work that was done during the November 2014 visit.
