It is such a common thing, something so basic that here in Canada we don't give it a second thought. But in Honduras, in the areas were poverty runs rampant, that is not the case. It is surprising how many children actually do not wear underpants. Most likely on their meager wages cannot afford it.
When we found out there was a need we got the word out there about wanting to do an underwear blitz. My mother in law got the ball rolling with her church's ladies group and they alone collected about 150 packages. The response was overall incredible. People even mailed us cheques from Ontario to B.C. to help contribute. Since we noticed most people were donated girls underwear we used the cheques to purchase boys underwear, as it would be not be fair or ethical to give to the girls and have nothing for the boys. They would have been so disappointed and heart broken.
Previously before we left for Honduras, I had gone through all the underwear--dividing it into bags according to boy/girl and according to size.
The night before the great Honduran Underwear Giveaway we counted each of those bags out as to exactly how many we would need per class. Every person would get the same amount. As you know packages of underpants range any where from two pairs to nine. At first we were packaging up three pairs per child, but we had nothing for the group of boys in grade 4. That would mean that the grade 4 girls would also have to go without. You cannot give to one and not the other in the same class, so no one in grade 4 would be receiving any.
As a solution we went through the Grade 3 and Grade 5 bags of boys and re packaged them into
packs of two each, taking the extra one from each bag and putting it aside for the Grade 4's. Miraculously there was exactly enough. A huge sigh of relief!
I was reminded of a miracle in the bible where Jesus fed the tired and hungry crowd of five thousand on a young boys lunch. There was more than enough. He is so faithful!
The reaction from the kids when they received their gift of underpants was incredible. Something so simple brought so much joy to these children. Their faces lit up with happiness. One class was so excited they whooped and cheered and tossed their underwear up in the air.
Some of the girls in fourth grade were giggling as they received theirs, quickly hiding it under their desk as though they were embarrassed. It was the sweetest thing!
Their smiles said it all. So thankful. So grateful. So happy.
The amazing thing was how the underwear multiplied, especially with the boys where we honestly did not have enough to go around. In the end we had more than plenty. We had enough to go around again and give each and every boy and girl and additional pair of underwear. Not only that but there was underwear left over for Randy and Judy to distribute to their discretion. They know the families were the need is the greatest.
As the children were leaving to go home, one small girl who was perhaps 6 or 7 grabbed my arm and
said in clear English, "Thank you very much!" Her beautiful face shone with happiness.
So we too say Thank you Canada for giving and making this all possible...and giving the children a HUG from Canada!
siao
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