Lifesaving Food Sent to Dominican Republic

Newport Rotary supported an area-wide Stop Hunger Now food packaging program this Summer during Rotary Night with the Marlins (College All-Star Baseball). Pres. Joe & Lena Garner participated. Assistant Governor Bob Melone of Beaufort advises that the packaged food has been shipped to the Dominican Republic in a container totaling 125,064 meals and donated goods from the SHN Eastern North Carolina warehouse. Along with the meals the shipment is carrying children's antibiotics and vitamins! There is also insect repellent that will help fight mosquito borne illness called Chikungunya. Chikungugya is characterized by fever and joint pains. The medicines and the meals will be received by their in-country partner,Citihope.

With 42% of the population below the poverty line, foo​d shortage is prevalent throughout the Dominican Republic. CitiHope provides food and other resources to schools, orphanages and other needy people and takes an active role in the distribution and monitoring. CitiHope supports sustainable educational and development programs that empower locals to create strong, self-sufficient communities.

Citihope's country director in the Dominican Repbulic says, "We consider this not to be 'charity' but a real investment in humanity. The school and orphanage programs help our country so much by creating a future of responsible citizens that contribute to the improvement of our society. These children come from families that cannot supply even one meal a day for their children and don't understand the purpose of education. So the motivation comes from the food!...These SHN donations are a defining component that heals a nation, multi-dimensionally".