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Rotarians from Valley find El Salvador trip rewarding
By Kristine Gill
BOARDMAN
Breakfast time was a noisy affair for local Rotarians who recently completed a mission trip to an orphanage in South America.
“The kids were so excited we were there,” said Sheryl Figliano, past president of the Boardman Rotary Club and director of the international avenue of service. “Every time you sat down, there were one or two kids on your lap who just wanted to be held or read a book.”
Seven Youngstown-area residents, including members from Austintown, Boardman, Salem and Canfield Rotaries, returned Jan. 17 from a mission trip to Los Planes De Renderos, El Salvador, where they delivered supplies to 22 orphans.
“They were good kids — cute,” said Austintown Rotarian Mark Cole. “All the ones over 10 or so could speak English. They were very educated.”
The local chapters raised more than $7,000 to purchase equipment for the people there including kitchen tables, benches, bicycles, mattresses, a big-screen TV, DVDs, children’s presents, maintenance tools, painting supplies, ceiling fans and a ladder.
Cole said the five-day trip was life-changing.
“It is so rewarding when you can make such a big difference in someone’s life, and they were all truly grateful for everything we accomplished for them,” he said.
Each Rotarian carried two 50-pound suitcases full of items to donate including toys and toiletries.
One night during the trip, the volunteers paid for and prepared a meal to feed the entire town of more than 100 people. Cole said the families were grateful for the meal, and one even took a picture with him.
“The town was very poor, but the people’s attitudes were very happy and positive,” he said.
Figliano, who has traveled with the Boardman Rotary Club to Mexico and Guatemala on more than 12 trips, spearheaded this year’s trip to El Salvador. As a doctor of audiology and owner of Centers for Hearing Care, Figliano was accompanied by her husband and a fellow employee who did a hearing screening for about 20 residents in a neighboring town who crammed into the back of a pickup truck to make it to the testing.
“We fit two elderly people with hearing aids who really couldn’t communicate anymore,” Figliano said. “All the children could hear, but some did need their ears cleaned. The two people [who received hearing aids] were just so thrilled.”
Travel expenses were covered by each volunteer who went on the trip. The group purchased large items including the TV and mattress at stores in El Salvador.
“If you have never done a mission trip in your life, make sure you put in on your bucket list to complete some day, and you will never regret the experience,” Cole said.
Figliano said that though some may be critical of the idea of a local Rotary club going overseas to aid others, it’s a requirement of the organization.
“The local Rotary clubs are so generous to this community and internationally. ... We want to help everyone regardless of their race, background or country,” she said.