Tech school club brings donations to Dominican Republic

SUssex County — Due to devastating floods, the Dominican Republic was picked by the Spanish Cultural Club of Sussex County Technical School as the recipient of a humanitarian visit five years ago. Every year since then, the Spanish Cultural Club has returned to the Puerto Plata region of the Dominican Republic to deliver more supplies and have the opportunity to learn more about the culture, geography and history of the country. This year, at 4:45 a.m. on a cold Sunday morning in November, 11 adults and 11 students from five school districts including Newton, Kittatinny Regional Jr. and Sr. High School, Pope John XXIII, Green Hills and Sussex County Technical High School assembled at the parking lot of the tech school to take part in the trip. For months, donations had been collected and sorted into 44 suitcases, and now the 22 people were anxiously awaiting their early morning departure. For some of those gathered this was an encore trip, but others it was a first. After arriving in the Dominican Republic the group visited a school run by an American couple. School supplies were delivered, and the group helped serve breakfast to the young students. Later, the group took a walk down a dirt drive to the local medical dispensary where one of the members of the group, Doctor Steve Sarner, and nurses Karin Kuhens and Denise Weber, dispensed medical supplies. Over the next several days they visited many more schools, most not accessible by paved roads. One Haitian village visited had no school, no bathrooms or running water. The villagers were appreciative of the clothes given to them. All the school supplies, clothes, shoes, sewing supplies, athletic wear, sports equipment and medical supplies the group brought were dispensed over the course of the week. Candy and Beanie Babies were given to children as well as bracelets that student Bryn Sarner made. Although the group stayed at the all-inclusive resort Breezes, poverty was not far away. Visit the Web site spanishculturalclub.org for pictures and more information. Call Dr. Mary Rapuano at 973-383-6700 ext. 579 for information about donations and attending next year’s trip.