It's the season of giving, and a brother and sister from Two Rivers hope you'll find it in your heart to help them bring Hope to Haiti.
Amber and Brandon LaChappelle created a video to ask the public for donations. They've set a $15,000 goal to help people in the poverty stricken country.
Amber fell in love with villagers there during a mission trip in September. She was heartbroken to see them still struggling to rebuild from a deadly earthquake nearly seven years ago. Then, last month, mother nature dealt another devastating blow.
"I came home and just a few weeks later was when Hurricane Matthew had hit. It just really kind of struck me and just seeing how it had affected people I met, kids I visited, and I just wanted to be able to do something."
That's when her brother, Brandon, remembered a video by YouTuber Casey Neistat that urged donors to contribute to his typhoon relief project in the Philippines in 2013.
"He had taken $25,000 and bought food, water, all kinds of supplies and gave it to the victims of that typhoon, so he texted me the video and said, 'Hey, let's do this in Haiti,'" Amber explained.
And with that, their Hope for Haiti social media blitz began. Donations to their Go Fund Me page started rolling in.
"I am just really grateful for everyone who has donated and everyone who's going to donate. I just want them to know that they are making an impact directly to these people's lives," Brandon said.
Brandon, a Pre-Med student, and Amber, a nursing student, are partnering with Success Ministries in Haiti to deliver food, water, medical supplies and housing supplies to help victims repair the damage in several poor villages.
Brandon says, "By purchasing the supplies there, we're also putting the money directly back into their economy which is huge."
Amber says whether you give $1 or $100, every penny will make a difference.
"I just hope they know that there's people that care about them. That there's people outside of their community, around the world, that truly care and want to help and love on them."
The LaChappelle's mission to spread love and healing is strengthening their sibling bond.
"She's one of my best friends, and it's just great to be able to have this journey with her and experience it, and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else."
Amber and Brandon are traveling to Haiti the day after Christmas. They plan to share videos when they return, so donors can see the direct impact of their generosity on the people of Haiti.
