I believe it is our purpose in life to help others. Finding ways to do that through your career is not always possible. However, as an architect the opportunities are wide and plentiful. It warmed my heart to hear that Paul Tassell and James Halstead in our Charlottesville office were working to help The Friends of Ft. Liberte to design an Eating Pavilion in collaboration with First United Methodist Church in Charlottesville.
Here is the story from Paul:
“I attend First United Methodist Church and was asked by Dave Wheatley, a local carpenter,mission trip leader, and member of First United Methodist Church of Charlottesville, to help with the structure and some images for an eating pavilion in Haiti. To support this project financially, visit their donation page here.
Friends of Ft. Liberte (Haiti) – First UMC and members of the Central Virginia area partner with The Friends of Ft. Liberte a 501(c) 3 founded to serve the people of the Ft. Liberte area in northeast Haiti (www.haitifriends.com). This charity has helped develop a farm that is now producing and selling plantain and chickens for profit. There are about 450 children in the sponsorship program which allows them to attend school and get at least one free meal a day. They support a medical clinic which is open daily and provides care for residents in a large area of Northeast Haiti. Medical demand has grown exponentially since the government shut down the only hospital in the area. There is active ministry to the elderly in the area and in the area of education. Yearly service trips involve a wide variety of activities and opportunities designed to help meet the needs of God’s people in Haiti.
