This document summarizes the activities of the Dominican Starfish Foundation trip from November 1-21, 2017. It describes delivering funds and supplies to families in need, visiting construction projects including a new community center and family homes, distributing food, clothing and school supplies, and fundraising efforts to help individuals with medical needs. Key accomplishments included raising funds for a new leg for Luis Jeronimo, finding sponsors for homes, and progress on the new Starfish Center building. The trip involved working with donors and volunteers from Canada and the United States to carry out projects helping impoverished families and communities in the Dominican Republic.

1. DOMINICAN
STARFISH
FOUNDATION
TRIP OF
MIRACLES
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
NOVEMBER 1-21, 2017

2. Day 1: We visited Rosendo and family in their rental home
and saw their new home in progress. We delivered funds
raised in Canada to help the family. Thank you Karen
Wojtowicz, Jill Barkhouse and others.

3. We delivered a bicycle to Ramon in Maggiolo. Thank
you to Taylor Webster from Las Vegas, who raised the
money for her 9th birthday instead of receiving gifts.

4. We saw for the first time the progress on
our new Starfish Center. This building will bless the lives
of so many people!

5. We met Keith and Marsha Russell from Lehi, Utah at dinner at
Azul. We took them to see our projects in Javillar. They have
chosen to sponsor a new home for Bacillia.

6. We visited Tamaris in
her new home.
The old home was
demolished with a
team from Ayuda
(the dental group)
our last day here in
July.

7. We delivered food to our “starfish”, Mela several times and
took treats to the children in Maggiolo. This is just a walk
from the beautiful place we stay.

8. 25 women received a sewing kit made by Jane
Keech and her sister Gaylene. They were so
thrilled to receive these.

9. We visited
Valbina. She is
on our list to
replace her
home. I saw
her smile for
the first time
ever! Thanks
Jim Keech!

10. We received a request to help
Juliany and Ravel with their home
to make it livable.
We received the request Sunday. Tuesday we
posted a fundraising site.

11. Only 4 days after their request to us,
we had raised the money and a group
of us painted their home.

12. The following day, we delivered, new kitchen
counters, a new stove and bed.

13. Jim and Jane Keech ordered food for 25 very poor families
in La Jugua Maggiolo. It is a very difficult trip to take it
down a large hill to this Haitian Settlement. A group of the
Keech family and friends helped to carry and deliver it all.

14. We raised funds to help Luis Jeronimo get a
new leg. Donations came in quickly and we so
appreciate everyone who helped make this
happen!

15. One week from the day we first posted the
fundraiser, Luis was walking again! He got
the leg in Santo Domingo and met us that
night at the gate to show us!

16. Sponsoring families from Canada shared food packs and
Christmas gifts with several of their special starfish
families.

18. Susan Ellis from Champion, Alberta
brought many handmade quilts, made by
the ladies in her community, and shared
them with those in need.

19. We were able to purchase a new bed for a family who
have 4 sharing one bedroom and a baby on the way.

20. With donations
from Corrie
Newman from
Edmonton and
others, we were
able to take
Christmas gifts
for 130 children
in a Christian-
based school run
by Pastor Frank
Pasqual.

21. We found a sponsor
for Valbina’s home!
15-year-old Jared
McMullen from
Calgary who was
visiting for the first
time with his parents!
He walked in the
door and
immediately said he
wanted to raise
money for the family.
He has already raised
$1500 of the money
needed.

22. We visited and took gifts to the children in the Maggiolo
school. This was our first building project in 2012. We were
so happy to find that they now have 2 teachers and 2
classrooms.

23. We visited and took gifts
to the children in a small
Haitian school in Maggiolo.
We also delivered clothing,
hygiene items and school
supplies brought by Mary
Anne.

24. Thanks to a
wonderful facebook
friend who was the
major contributor
helping us get the
leg for Luis, we
found a new,
experienced and
dependable lawyer
to help us set up our
foundation in the
Dominican,
something we have
been working on for
almost 5 years.

25. We received an
additional offer from a
group to sponsor
Valbina’s home. Chris
and Lisa Gicuque from
Salt Lake who were here
with the dentists in the
summer are doing this
as a Christmas project!
THANKS TO EVERYONE!
Working together will
make it happen faster
and bless lives!

26. With donations from
generous people, we were
finally able to purchase a
small plot of land for Tutu
and Jesenia. Tutu has
been one of our
construction workers for 4
years.

27. We were able to to watch the progress of our
new Starfish Center. It’s has changed so much
during our 3-week stay.

28. On our last visit before we left, we saw the roof getting
ready to be poured with electricity lines going in and
soooo much rebar.

29. Thanks so much to all of our donors and
volunteers. Without you, none of this
would be possible.