In March of 2007 I was given the opportunity to experience poverty firsthand. Over my spring break I traveled to Cap Haitian, Haiti to help out with free medical clinics. I went with Eternal Hope in Haiti, a nonprofit organization that specializes in medical care for the poor. My neighbor in Hoschton actually started Eternal Hope and has been providing medical care in Haiti for the past 25 years.

At first, I was extremely hesitant about going to Haiti given that the US media did not give me the peaceful reassurance I needed. My mom had gone before and really urged me to go. Much to my surprise, this was by far the most rewarding experience I have ever had. The people of Haiti are so thankful and so humble for what they have.

At the medical clinics I noticed how desperate the patients were. I gave out little tootsie rolls and the children acted like it was Christmas. Kids in Haiti most often only get one meal a day - if they are lucky, and most of them don't have any other clothes other than the tattered and torn clothes they have on at the moment. After I saw the desperation of the kids, I decided there had to be something else I could do. When I got back into the states I was so excited to tell everyone about my trip. Stephanie, my aunt and boss, asked if there was anything Plexus could do. After a few days of thinking, we decided that Plexus could print kid sized t-shirts and give them away at the clinics. This would allow all the children to walk away in clean clothes which is extremely beneficial. This small contribution will make a HUGE impact on hundreds of children in Haiti.

In December, I plan to return to Haiti along with my parents and sisters as well as the Eternal Hope volunteers to again help in the clinics and distribute the Plexus t-shirts. I know that the gesture will not only bring smiles to the children's faces who receive the t-shirts but it will allow a small, Athens, Georgia-based company play a small role in bringing relief to such an impoverished country.