Christian Student Spends Summer Helping Poor Families in Haiti

Rather than playing sports or running around with friends all summer, Colin Frank, a senior at Montini Catholic, chose to spend his summer vacation helping those less fortunate in another part of the world.

Frank volunteered for the Side by Side for Christ Foundation, helping the Village of Hope in Haiti.

The Village of Hope is a Christian organization that brings quality education, spiritual assistance, health care, shelter and other assistance to the people of Haiti.

“I helped at an orphanage one day,” Frank said. “The conditions these poor children experience everyday are indescribable.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, Frank, along with the rest of his volunteer group mates, began raising thousands of dollars before their trip, so they could pay their own airfare, and acquire important supplies for the poorest areas of Haiti.

“Many Haitians are still homeless without basic needs such as electricity and clean water,” said Frank. “They are in desperate need of basics such as school supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, diapers, even aspirin and Advil.”

Cape-Coral-Daily-Breeze reports that while Frank was assisting Haiti through the Side by Side for Christ Foundation, the Volunteers of America worked side by side with them.

“The mission of Volunteers of America is to reach out and uplift all people to the glory of God,” said Pastor Tom Hafer, Director of Spiritual Services. “When people acquire the skills, education, and motivation to climb the ladder of sustainability, they not only survive, they thrive. The Village of Hope, the ongoing Haiti mission project, shares that same quest for self-sufficiency.”

According to Houzz, approximately 60% of people plan on remodeling their master bedroom. The people of Haiti don’t have that luxury to remodel whenever they wish so it’s a wonderful opportunity for them when someone comes around to lend a hand. Frank and his team of volunteers spent days remodeling storage and utility rooms within the poorest areas in Haiti.

Frank was the 2016 co-winner of the De Lasalle Outstanding Student Award for exemplifying the true LaSallian Christian spirit during his time in school.

“We all watched this young man give his heart and soul to helping others,” said Assistant Principal Dr. Michael Kisicki. “What he did for others under the sweltering sun of Haiti is just so typically Colin — we are all so very proud of him.”