Where there is love, there is hope - West Liberty Index Article
by RotaryClub WestLiberty on Friday, August 7, 2009 at 5:54pm
by Ken Donnelly • April 30, 2008
For nearly six years now, a lifeline of financial aid and personal visits by Tom and Mary Pat Brooke and Conrad Gregg, motivated by love and service above self has linked our Midwestern community of West Liberty to a suburb of Manzanillo, in the state of Colima, Mexico in a town called Salaha. The object of this charity, 52 Mexican children, ranging in ages from a six-month old infant to high school students. Each child has a unique and heartbreaking story, some were victims of abandonment, abuse, severe neglect or extreme poverty.
The Rotary Club of West Liberty first became involved with this orphanage in 2002, when Dan Foley, an Assistant District Governor of Rotary and former West Liberty postmaster, asked Tom and Mary Pat Brooke if they would visit the place in the Manzanillo area while they were vacationing in that city.
The orphanage, Casa Hogar los Angelitos, was begun by a Colorado native, Nancy Nystrom, who started a soup kitchen for children she found living on the streets. Her dream was for a home for these children to grow both physically and spiritually. A generous donation from Colorado allowed a real “home” to be provided for the children in 2002 and basic renovations started.
When the two Brookes returned to town and their weekly Tuesday Rotary meeting, actions were initiated to get the children a used yellow school bus so that they might be able to attend school. The West Liberty Rotary Club, through grants from the Rotary Foundation in Evanston, Ill. and Rotary District 6000 (a geographic area made up of 62 clubs in the southern half of Iowa), purchased a used bus on E-bay from the state of Kentucky. It sat in Dallas Center, Iowa and took two long years to finally arrive in Manzanillo.
The gift of the bus was followed by another combination of Rotary International grants and West Liberty monies to purchase a freezer, a refrigerator and other kitchen equipment. In addition, beds have been purchased by individual local club members for the children.
The board of the West Liberty Rotary Club has authorized annual support in the amount of $3000 for Casa Hogar los Angelitos. Recent brick and mortar funds have helped establish a library, a computer room and a music room.
Way back in 1939, a new Rotary club was established in Wellman, Iowa with the sponsorship of President Hubert Cline, father of Bill and Bob, and the local club. Now two generations later West Liberty is helping establish the Manzanillo, Mexico Rotary club.
In addition to Tom and Mary Pat Brooke’s multiple journies as goodwill ambassadors, Conrad Gregg has driven six hours to the Twin Cities, then flown four hours in a 737 charter flight to the orphanage four times. The most recent visit was this past February. Conrad has seen the young person he sponsors at $450 per year, Raul, become a healthy and happy eight-year old. The West Liberty Rotary Club, as well as the Brookes, also sponor a child.
For Conrad, his annual visit combines a working vacation with strolls along the beach he has grown to love. In February, while we were cursing the snow, he wired in the new washer and dryer, installed multiple donor plaques on the wall and helped build a 10 x 16 foot stage for live performances by the kids. Conrad smiled as he spoke of the very talented Mexican youths who play multiple instruments and performed various dances.
Rotarian Bill Koellner mentioned that the first of the orphans who have graduated secondary school, now are pursuing post secondary education. An environment, a milieu, if you will, is developing, for what was a real impossibility just a few short years ago: a professional career, a good life-time job. “Where there is love, there is hope.” It is said that children are the hope of the future, with help from West Liberty, Mexican orphans are finding that hope.
Steve Stout, formerly a resident of Washington, Iowa, and now the president of the Manzanillo Rotary Club, stated that if it had not been for Rotary, this oprphanage would not have expanded and prospered.
Reports are circulating locally of possible plans by the Rotary in West Liberty to launch a local auction later this year or early next year under the leadership of President-elect Cindy Mays. This new club project will enable all local residents to support the Casa Hogar los Angelitos in bigger and better ways.
Will you help us, help them?