In the fall of 2017l, it just so happened – as good things frequently do – that our Kingdom Crafters learned of EAMC affiliates Julia and Bill Howington’s scheduled cruise out of Puerto Rico in January. The Crafters knew that in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the Category 4 storm that struck the island last September and the worst storm to hit this island of 3.4 million people in 80 years, the victims there needed basic supplies. It just so happened that Julia Pollock, chair of Kingdom Crafters, had a friend who just so happened to have a cousin living there named Nannette Duggan. Contact was made with Nannette and then it just so happened that everything else fell into place. The Crafters set about preparing a “care package” to send with Bill and Julia. Actually, more than one. Twenty-four towels and washcloths, eight children’s Bibles, 25 string bags, 28 dresses, 26 blankets, and used children’s clothing were packed in three giveaway duffel bags and taken to Puerto Rico via the Howingtons. Nannette and her son Kevin met the Howingtons at the port of San Juan to receive the donations. What follows is Nannette’s story of what happened next, in her own words from an email, which has been edited [in brackets] for clarity. L 2 Hello everybody, My son Kevin & I are soooo very thankful for your donations. Everything was so beautiful!!! We could not believe how much stuff was packed in those bags! When I opened them to sort them out of course I needed extra bags to re-pack! The blankets, the towels, the bags, the kids clothes and those gorgeous dresses!!! Ahhh! Thank you ladies, for using your skills to create, with love, such beautiful dresses! Kevin & a group of friends have been going to different communities around the Island bringing some entertainment, supplies (food, water, clothing, toiletries, etc. & some services) & a BBQ lunch to those affected by hurricane Maria. They called their group #MovimientoBBQparaPuertoRico. [On January] 28th we went to Loiza (a small town on the northeastern coast) to a community called Villa Cañona… very needy, no electricity, no water. [Ed. note: Loiza, founded in 1692 is a vibrant beach town of roughly 30,000 inhabitants about 30 minutes outside of San Juan. Settled by Nigerian slaves in the 16th century, it has one of the highest percentages of African descendants and is the spiritual and cultural center of the Afro-Puerto Rican community. Although 72.3% of the residents have a high school diploma or higher, the median household income for a family of three is just over $19,000. The town was hit by deadly floods and was under water for days after Hurricane Maria. Parts of the community are still without power.]
