Liam Grier is on a mission to raise funds for the Centre Wellington District High School’s Mission Trip to (CWDHS) Honduras this July.
“I’m excited to experience and see how people in different cultures live,” Grier said.
In preparation for the trip, Grier is organizing a “Music for Honduras” fundraising event at the Elora Centre for the Arts on April 28, as part of his personal fundraising initiative.
Grier is one of a team of CWDHS students heading to Porvenir, Honduras along with teacher and trip coordinator Anne-Marie Vosburgh.
The CWDHS mission trips began in April 2003. Since then Vosburgh has led 10 teams to Honduras and 3 to Nicaragua.
This year’s team will travel to Porvenir, Honduras to build a kindergarten and a playground. The team will also participate in other initiatives such as the delivery of food and clothing to households in the area and work at a feeding centre.
To participate, each student is responsible for raising the funds needed to travel to Honduras and to contribute to a portion of the mission’s building costs. Team members will also travel with hockey bags filled with clothing and supplies for the village they visit.
“I know a lot of other people who have gone on these kinds of trips who say it’s a life-changing, eye-opening experience to see all these kids who are ten times poorer than we are and twenty times happier,” Grier said. “It really puts things in perspective and I’m excited to be able to contribute and help do my part.”
Grier decided to combine the fundraising project with an opportunity to showcase local youth talent. He created the “Music for Honduras” concert fundraiser and contacted local student musicians. The response was overwhelming.
Independent artists and bands scheduled to appear include Lisa Arnold, Brett Carlo, Sean Warren (spoken word), and Centre Wellington’s Got Talent winner Chloe Smith, Arlin Otto, Anders Gatten, and guitarist David Pile. Bands such as The Boo Radley Project, plus groups headed by Jack Arnott and Jake Drexler are joining in.
“Music for Honduras” will take place on April 28 at the Elora Centre for the Arts from 3pm to 10:30pm. The event includes a raffle and silent auction. There will be food and refreshments. Admission is by donation.
