For several years now, a group of Wellington County residents has travelled to the Dominican Republic to better the lives of children in that impoverished Caribbean nation.
Organized through Friends of the Orphans Canada (www.fotocan.org), the group volunteers at a Dominican orphanage known as Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), or Our Little Brothers and Sisters (www.nph.org).
Ashley Wilson, 20, of Belwood, is among those participating in this year’s mission trip at the orphanage, which is located near the town of San Pedro de Macrois, between Santo Domingo and La Romana.
In order to help raise the funds necessary for her to take part, Wilson is organizing a special lunch on Feb. 1 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Arthur at noon, following the regular Sunday service.
Everyone is welcome and Wilson is asking only that those attending the lunch – which includes soups, sandwiches, tea and coffee, and desserts – provide a donation to help her cause.
Wilson will be one of 40 people participating in this round of the mission trips. She will be departing on Feb. 14 and staying for a week.
She explained the volunteers are divided into different teams. Some are going to be helping out with the construction of different buildings in the area, while another team is delivering Sports equipment to children, and the group with which Wilson is volunteering will be working in the local medical clinic, assessing and providing care for patients.
