Most of us do hang on to things--clothing the children have outgrown, clothes that we hope to fit back into some day, and closets and boxes full of toys.  We not only collect clothing, but we do the same in our kitchen, holding on to old dishes, pots, and utensils; and in our workshops, with cans of nuts and bolts and tools we just don't use.

When we are tired of all the boxes, we have a yard sale. Things we paid $40 for we "sell" for 2 or 3 dollars, or give away at the end of the day.  And while our bargins might really help someone in need, most of our items don't change someone else's life, or give them the step up from poverty and dispair.

The Honduras Mission Outreach is a grassroots ministy--everything we collect is put to use to change the plight of the very poor--our effort is more than handouts, which can create dependence--instead, our approach is to give people a hand up towards education and employment, as we incubate hundreds of small businesses, ranging from flower stands to bicycle and computer repair shops.  Shoes mean a child can go to school or a parent can walk to work.  A bicycle means the job opportunities have been broadened by 10-15 miles.  Handtools give an opportunity to be employed.

 

 

When we ship donations to Honduras, we hire the truck in Honduras to take the container directly to those in greatest need.  Children and their families open the boxes we have packed in Virginia and Missouri, and we ensure that everything is put to the best use.

 

 

An old bicycle becomes a project for the man who has learned how to repair bicycles and sell them so that he can feed his family and look forward to a productive life in his own county.

 

A skirt and top give a woman hope, as she finally has something special to wear, something which is not threadbare, too large, or too small.  Simple things like underwear, not only improve daily life, but also gives a woman more confidence and self-respect, as she can now dress "properly."