Earlier this week, Molly, one of the 2018 trip members, was able to visit the Mortel High Hopes for Haiti Foundation headquarters in Harrisburg, PA. Here’s how her visit went!
I’m fortunate to work close to the downtown area, so I was thrilled to get the chance to visit the Mortel HHH Foundation headquarters earlier this week. It’s been great to stay connected with the foundation over the years, especially since most of us were recent high school graduates when we went on the trip in 2018, and now we’ve all graduated from college. I’ve grown a lot in these four years, and have a much better perspective and understanding of the value of the work that the foundation does. Being able to visit and witness the work firsthand was a perfect full circle moment.
The office itself is in the heart of the downtown hustle and bustle. The view is beautiful, and it faces the state capitol and state museum. While COVID-19 has decreased the amount of foot traffic and employees working in the office full-time, it was still filled with volunteers and staff, and it was great to see everyone working together in-person.
When I walked in, I was greeted by volunteers who were putting together envelopes to mail sponsorship donors their student’s end-of-year report cards and greeting cards (to learn more about sponsorship through the Mortel HHH Foundation, check out our Day 7 post here!). They explained that the process can take a few days to do, and it’s a true labor of love. The foundation could go paperless and electronically send pictures of the cards, but the deeper meaning of having the tangible cards made by the kids is too important. I don’t think people always understand just how vital volunteers are to non-profits, including High Hopes for Haiti. They are such a critical and valued part of the team that help the organization run.
I was given a tour of the office. It’s a friendly and welcoming space, with lots of pictures, familiar faces, and tributes to Dr. Mortel, the founder of the Mortel HHH Foundation who passed away earlier this year. Denise, his daughter and the new president of the foundation, talked with me in the conference room for a while. She was so kind and enthusiastic. We talked about our experiences in Haiti, our faith, families, community involvements, and more. It was great to meet and spend some time with such an incredible leader who is ensuring the foundation will only continue to grow in its goals and pursuits in future years (you can learn more about Denise and her vision for High Hopes for Haiti in our Day 3 post here!).
I was struck by the energy and excitement present throughout the office. Everyone I interacted with was outgoing, down to earth, and passionate about the cause. There were also lots of flowing ideas for what this and the next few years will look like, which was exciting to hear. One idea is to have a tribute for Dr. Mortel this December to celebrate his birthday. Denise also gave me a few copies of Dr. Mortel’s book Go and Do the Same, which I am excited to read and distribute to friends and family. You can also pick up a copy here.
Now that I’ve connected with the office in this way, I hope to stay as involved as I can. It’s so easy to stop by during a lunch hour and help around the office with packing report cards or any other tasks they may have! The foundation also hosts community events, like their annual crab feast, which are great ways to engage with and support the valuable work they do. You can find out about upcoming events and get more information here.
The Mortel High Hopes for Haiti Foundation has had and continues to have such an important impact on all of our lives. I am grateful to have had the opportunity not only to travel to Haiti but to keep the organization and mission as a part of my life throughout college and now as I enter the professional world. It can be so easy to slip back into the normalcy of day-to-day life, yet every time I work on this campaign or talk with members of the foundation, I am reminded of just how vital their work is. Your reading and support of this campaign recognizes this, too. Thank you for taking the time to read, engage with, and champion the incredible country and people of Haiti alongside us for these past three years. Your support means more than we could ever put into words, and we look forward to sharing continued updates here on the Teacher Fund, schools, and foundation over the next year.
Thank you again for being a part of the hope and a part of the future. We are forever grateful.
To donate to the 11 Days in Haiti Campaign, click here.