THE PATRICK SHIFFLETT FOUNDATION

Hope For Honduras

Uniforms Donated 2018
Uniforms Donated 2017

PARTICIPANTS
Steven Shifflett
Sebastian Aulestia
Nico Prestipino
Brandon Clark
Sabrina Cole
Natalie Scherr
Elizabeth Loy
Martha Abshire
Angie Dunlevy
Dave Dunlevy
Kim Prestipino
Nick Prestipino

On February 6th, a new chapter for New Hope Opportunities began with the first day of classes at Hope School, “Escuela Esperanza.” Once again our facility is ringing with the sound of children’s laughter and excitement. Happy students come through our gate smiling and eager to learn.

Our very slim budget predicted a humble beginning with limited classes, limited books, no uniforms, and no meals, but the response to our newsletter was amazing. Your generous support has changed everything! We have been able to begin the school with more students and classes than we thought possible. Our students now have a feeding program that provides one meal each school day, individual books, and uniforms. We are providing classes for pre-kindergarteners, first graders, and seventh graders. We are also offering classes to help adults finish high school as well as classes for students who are gaining basic reading and writing skills. Each year we hope to add new grades to our existing schedule to provide all grades.

The help the Patrick Shifflett Foundation is providing by purchasing uniforms has helped strengthen our community. Most of our students in Hope School do not have the means to purchase their own uniforms. These uniforms provide a sense of belonging and personal commitment for them and their families in this academic endeavor to help break the cycle of poverty they are trapped in. We have ordered the uniforms and they should be delivered next week. As soon as they are received we will be sending photos of the students and their uniforms. On behalf of the students, THANK YOU.

Marne Cottriel

TRIP TO HONDURAS
Thanks to the incredibly generous donation by The Patrick Shifflett Foundation, we were able to travel to Honduras in April of 2017 and impact many lives in a variety of ways. The team consisted of six Clarksburg High School students and six adults. We traveled to San Pedro Sula where we visited a school and met the directors. We toured the school and saw the uniforms and shoes the Foundation purchased. In Honduras uniforms are a requirement to attend school. The community around this school is a very low income community and most are unable to afford to send their children to school. Without an education and future these children grow up to be more susceptible to becoming part of a gang, begging on the streets, or criminal behavior. By funding these uniforms, the Patrick Shifflett Foundation truly invested in the lives of these children and their community.

We also traveled to Santa Barbara Honduras which is bit more remote. We met a young widow by the name of Conchita, with four young children living in a house made of mud, branches, and stones. One wall was beginning to fall and was being temporarily supported by a tree trunk. The Patrick Shifflett Foundation funded the supplies to build this young vulnerable family a much larger and secure home. We were able to provide “Family Boxes” to the community which included staples such as beans, rice, flour, salt, coffee, soap etc. The funds also went towards providing new clothing and shoes for Conchita, her family, and the other children in the community.

Pastor Arnol Maldanado was our connection to the people of Santa Barbara. He connected us with the needs and had the supplies there on the grounds for us to begin the construction of Conchita’s home. He has such a heart to help the “least of these”, that he purchased a used minivan in complete faith that somehow God would enable him to pay for the van. He purchased the van in order to transport volunteers to help serve people in need. Part of the donation went to Pastor Arnol to pay off his van. Pastor Arnol was visibly moved by such generosity and could not contain his gratitude to God, and to the Patrick Shifflett Foundation for allowing God to use them as such a blessing.

Brian and Rina Ruark are the directors of a Trade School called Ministerio La Voz. They teach welding, computers, English, sewing, and mechanics. They also teach the students about the gospel of Jesus. Many people have a strong desire to further their education but do not have the resources. Brian had recently started a scholarship program without knowing where the funds would come from. He trusted God and He provided through the Patrick Shifflett Foundation for many students to attend Ministerio La Voz and further their education and abilities to provide for themselves and their families.

We had the blessing of visiting an orphanage in Santa Barbara and delivered soccer nets for the children. A portion of the team spent the afternoon with them playing, coloring, reading, and loving on them.

The Patrick Shifflett Foundation made a significant difference in many lives through their generosity. This difference is more than temporary, it made a life changing difference for not only individuals, but families and communities through the investment in the lives of children in so many ways. Through the loss of their child, they have poured into the lives of those less fortunate and genuinely given them hope and the ability to have a brighter future. Thank you to the Shifflett family for allowing Patrick’s legacy to continue in such a beautiful way. May God continue to multiply the Foundation and enable Patrick to continue touching this world.

God bless you all from the April 2017 Honduran team.