January 29, 2003 - Palm Beach Post: Sierra Leone RPCV Gerri Preston leads a lifetime of volunteering

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: 01 January 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: January 29, 2003 - Palm Beach Post: Sierra Leone RPCV Gerri Preston leads a lifetime of volunteering

By Admin1 (admin) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 4:13 pm: Edit Post

Sierra Leone RPCV Gerri Preston leads a lifetime of volunteering





Caption: Caridad Health Clinic, where RPCV Gerri Preston helps prepare and serve lunch to 250 people at The Soup Kitchen n on Boynton Beach Boulevard in Boynton Beach

Read and comment on this story from the Palm Beach Post on Sierra Leone RPCV Gerri Preston who has led a lifetime of volunteering. When she traveled to Sierra Leone in the 1980s to teach home economics to children in an Islamic village, she ended up giving them a lesson in basic hygiene. Horrified to see the way women and children were suffering, the native Floridian returned home from her two-year stay as a member of the United States Peace Corps and pledged to continue assisting those less fortunate than herself. More than 20 years later, she has stayed true to her word. Every Monday morning for the past six years, Preston has helped prepare and serve lunch to 250 people at The Soup Kitchen next to the Caridad Health Clinic on Boynton Beach Boulevard in Boynton Beach. Read the story at:

PEACE CORPS STINT IN AFRICA LEADS WOMAN TO LIFETIME OF VOLUNTEERING*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



PEACE CORPS STINT IN AFRICA LEADS WOMAN TO LIFETIME OF VOLUNTEERING

Jan 29, 2003 - Palm Beach Post

Author(s): Stephanie Slater Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

When Gerri Preston traveled to Sierra Leone in the 1980s to teach home economics to children in an Islamic village, she ended up giving them a lesson in basic hygiene.

Horrified to see the way women and children were suffering, the native Floridian returned home from her two-year stay as a member of the United States Peace Corps and pledged to continue assisting those less fortunate than herself.

More than 20 years later, she has stayed true to her word.

Every Monday morning for the past six years, Preston has helped prepare and serve lunch to 250 people at The Soup Kitchen next to the Caridad Health Clinic on Boynton Beach Boulevard in Boynton Beach.

Preston, who moved to Delray Beach in 1996, is in charge of sorting the produce. Tomatoes, potatoes, onions, peppers, carrots and celery are used to make the soup. The leafy vegetables are bagged and given to clients with a bag of rice, dried beans and whatever canned vegetables have been donated, she said. Families also receive two loaves of bread and a bag of fruit.

"The food is very good," she said. "We get donations of chicken, ham and hamburger meat, and that's what we'll cook for their meals."

Lunch is served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Preston says she has noticed that since Sept. 11, the number of people coming in has increased significantly. In 2001, The Soup Kitchen served 45,443 meals.

"We started off just feeding the migrant workers, but now we're getting a lot of people who have lost their jobs," she said. "We won't turn anyone away."

The Soup Kitchen is run by volunteers and relies entirely on donations, which is why Preston also spends a great deal of time giving recruitment speeches at local churches.

"I tell people that The Soup Kitchen is an outstanding example of what the volunteer spirit can accomplish, but we can't do it without the community's contributions," she said.

Preston, who retired as director of Human Resources for Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale in 1980, also is a member of Palm Beach County's American Red Cross disaster relief team. When Hurricane Lilli left thousands of people in Louisiana without food and shelter in October, Preston and Steve Bayer of Boynton Beach lent their assistance by distributing food, clothing and supplies. When Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992, she helped open and run a tent city community.

"God has been so good to me, and I have so many blessings," she said. "This is just my way of saying thank you."

If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?

"I'd go back to Sierra Leone and see how many of my students have survived."

What event in history do you wish you had witnessed?

"I think I'd like to watch them sign the Declaration of Independence, because it's one of the most wonderful things that's come out of the world of politics."

What's the best advice you ever received?

"Be yourself."

The Soup Kitchen is seeking donations of canned vegetables, fresh fruit, bags of rice, dried beans, bread, baby food and diapers. Donations may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at The Soup Kitchen, 8645 Boynton Beach Blvd. For more information, call 732- 7595.
More about Caridad Health Clinic



Read more about Caridad Health Clinic at:

Caridad Health Clinic

The Caridad Health Clinic provides free medical and dental services through a volunteer corps of medical and dental professionals.

The new Caridad Health Campus is home to the Count and Countess deHoernle Pavilion, a 7,600 square foot facility that includes the Caridad Health Clinic and MASF administrative offices. Separate rooms are provided for client screening, medical and dental examinations, immunizations and a pharmacy. The original Caridad Health Clinic opened in 1992 in a double-wide trailer in West Boynton Beach, Florida. It was the first and only of its kind in South Florida to provide free health care for the needy farmworkers and their children through volunteer services.

ch{line}The Migrant Association of South Florida (MASF) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to serve the needs of the migrant farmworker children and their families in the Rangeline area of Palm Beach County and surrounding counties.

The Mission of MASF:

To reach out and help migrant children and guide them to become productive citizens of the community.

The Objectives of MASF are:

* Upgrade the living standard through adequate housing

* Ensure and provide proper health care

* Encourage and monitor education

* Promote and foster social and civic awareness through programmed activities.

Accomplishments:

* Provided 165 mobile homes for migrant families * Gave assistance to 852 families during this holiday season * Awarded scholarships for migrant students attending public schools and college * Initiated an after school homework tutoring program * Provided medical and dental care to over 10,000 patients * Implemented a vision screening program * Developed a pediatric dental program

Future Goal of MASF:

* Expand Services of Caridad Health Clinic to provide more comprehensive medical and dental services for both children and adults. * Permanent Housing in self-sufficient communities for farmworker families to occupy and maintain. * Education Building on the Caridad Health Campus for tutoring programs, day care, prekindergarten, summer camp, adult literacy, English classes, vocational training, pre-natal, and preventive healthcare programs. * Endowment Fund to ensure perpetuity of the organization's programs and services. * Scholarship Fund to encourage and support higher education for migrant children.


Housing:

From 1989 to the present, MASF placed 165 migrant farmworker families in refurbished mobile homes. This program enables families to have a place to return to after traveling around the country for work. Children are able to finally have uninterrupted schooling because they have a permanent place to live.

Educational Scholarships:

In an effort to support the educational development of migrant farmworker children, MASF has contributed school supplies and educational materials, money for field trips including the Washington DC Safety Patrol Trip, and college scholarships to deserving students. Two students will be attending Grandview Preparatory School in the fall.

Holiday Celebrations:

Holiday seasons are a special time for MASF. Because children are home from school, they do not eat breakfast and lunch at school. MASF delivers hundreds of food baskets and turkeys so these hardworking families can also enjoy the holidays. MASF makes sure that migrant children receive at least one new toy for Christmas and toys, candy, and toothbrushes in Easter baskets.

Homework Assistance Program:

After school tutoring is provided two days a week at the Caridad Clinic. Children are given assistance with their homework and tutoring is given to meet the needs of each individual child. The children have the opportunity to learn using educational software in our computer area.

Emergency Aid:

Migrant farmworker families new to the area often travel with only clothes and household goods that can fit in their trucks. MASF helps these families with beds, furniture, food, clothes, and anything that will make the family's transition to Palm Beach County smooth. If the family is settled in quickly, the children will be able to enter school and the adults can begin working.

Caridad Health Clinic:

The Caridad Health Clinic in the Count and Countess deHoernle Pavillion on the Caridad Health Campus is located in West Boynton Beach, Florida. It provides free medical and dental screenings and examinations, blood draw and immunizations, and a limited pharmacy. All services are offered through the donated hours of over 300 volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, dental hygienists, pharmacists, medical technicians, and non-medical volunteers. This year the clinic served over 10,000 patients!


In Spanish, CARIDAD is defined as CHARITY. What an appropriate name for this devoted and committed founder and president of the Migrant Association of South Florida! Caridad Asensio has dedicated her life to improving the lives of the migrant farmworker children and their families in the Rangeline area of Palm Beach County.

In 1971, Caridad began working with migrant families as a community health worker for the Palm Beach County school district. She witnessed the extreme poverty, the lack of medical and dental care, the substandard housing conditions and the lack of food and clothing facing these hardworking families.

She decided to educate and seek help from the community. Caridad believes that anyone who works from dawn to dusk in a backbreaking job deserves the basics of food, clothing, housing, and health care. It became her mission in life to provide these things for the migrant farmworker children so they can grow up to be productive and self-sufficient adults. Caridad appealed to her friends and neighbors, to churches and synagogues, to men's and women's clubs, to community organizations and corporations, and to anyone who would listen to her. She asked that people notice the workers in the field the next time they pass a farm or nursery. She implored people to think of the workers the next time they enjoyed a salad, a fat, juicy tomato or a fruit platter.

Through the efforts of Caridad Asensio, the Migrant Association was incorporated as non-profit organization in 1989. MASF provides services to support and enrich the lives of migrant farmworker families. Her endless energy has made a free medical and dental clinic available to the working poor. But, Caridad is not finished yet. Her dream is an education building to further help the children!



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By Shirley Chevere (adsl-8-218-39.mia.bellsouth.net - 65.8.218.39) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 6:34 pm: Edit Post

This is in regards to looking for help. Medical help for dental and food help. I'm not employed at this time is there a way to get free help. I do have a home at the moment, dont know for how long.. Is it possible to get help.. Sure hope you don't have to be homeless to get any help as a U.S cit.

Shirley Chevere
561-818-8837 cell

What are the requirements of getting help from you? And where are you located exactly?


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