My name is Mike Margolies and I am a proud board member of what I like to call the most “remarkable/unremarkable” non-profit organization in the entire world.  Let me present the “evidence”…

Most organizations got started when people recognized the need to assist those trying to survive something like a war, or natural disaster.  Or perhaps they themselves, or someone they knew, needed support to deal with a traumatic injury or illness.	After adopting two kids from Guatemala, Jen, our President, started Guatemala Service Projects with our VP, Trent, who developed his own interest in the country after participating in a transcultural healthcare trip.  Many of our Board members adopted children from Guatemala. Nothing “remarkable” so far, right?
Many organizations are affiliated with large, organized groups, so they already have a database of people that they can call on to donate money, time, and effort for what they believe is a worthy cause.  They usually work out of offices, and in some cases, have their own buildings.	We came together because we fell in love with Guatemala, and wanted to “give back,” to a country and its people something in return for the priceless gifts we received.  Most of our donors are our family and friends, or are people we just happened to meet, either in person, or through social media. We work out of our homes, and we are all volunteers.
Some organizations are recognizable because of celebratory backing.  Danny and Marlo Thomas with St. Jude Hospital for Children, and Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s Foundation are two that immediately come to mind. Or they were started and/or supported by wealthy philanthropists such as Bill Gates or Warren Buffett.	Who are we?  You can find our bios (with pictures) if you click here.  We are health care workers and teachers, some who are retired.  One of our board members (okay, it’s me) sometimes performs as a clown.  Our president is a software engineer.

What I believe makes us “remarkable” is that we have given our money, volunteered our time, and devoted our energy to accomplish the following…

• At the beginning of the pandemic we gave, mostly from our own pockets, or those of people we knew, tens of thousands of dollars which was used to purchase food to keep people from starving.  We may not have taught anybody to fish, but, even “BC” (before covid) we were personally delivering chickens so people will have a food source for years, if not a lifetime.  The project is “Ten Bucks a Cluck.”  Catchy, right?  (I can’t claim any responsibility for coming up with the name, but I did deliver the chickens, and even have photos and videos to prove it.)

• On our most recent trip, my good friends Tammi (another Board member) and Regi (with her teenage daughter who is a “clown in training”) solicited donations of vitamins and other medical supplies from friends and members of their communities and at their own expense, transported and delivered  them. 

• Also on that trip, we attended a ceremony to celebrate the opening of a medical clinic whose construction our ‘unremarkable’ organization funded last year, in part through the tireless efforts of remarkable people like Patti (another Board member) and contributions from many friends. This is in a very small community I like to call “P-Bajo” in which the word “isolated” would be an understatement. Much of the actual construction was done by the members of the community.

• We provided them wood burning stoves to cook their meals. We delivered water filters to their homes, which enable them to have clean drinking water.  They didn’t need my help to build the systems, but I did carry a couple of the water filters.

We provided scholarships for their children to attend school. In addition, purchased the desks, chairs, and school supplies so the students can sit and do their work. Since the start of the pandemic, most of them still can’t attend school. So, we have provided cellphones, laptops, and Chromebooks for them to continue their studies remotely.  We provided books to stock the shelves of their libraries. We even gave one school the money to build that library…and the shelves.

We helped them start businesses, such as a “Guatemalan French fry stand“ and clothing stores, that included items which were woven and sewn with their own hands.  Some of those businesses became so successful that they provided even more jobs!

Opportunities to Travel

Not even the pandemic has prevented Jen from organizing four service trips. I have been on three of them. In fact, I am writing this blog just one day after returning from the trip I mentioned earlier.  Along with fellow board members, friends, and my wife and son, we received gifts of gratitude for what we brought them. I am sure I can speak for everyone who traveled with me that the best gift of all was JOY.  Joy that was expressed in smiles, laughter and hugs, even from a donation as simple as a balloon animal. (sculptured in front of them by  you know who).

None of us, not even Jen receive any monetary compensation. Plaques (attached to walls of the library, reservoir, desks, and clinic) display some of our names.   Even without the plaques, we unremarkable people KNOW we achieved something truly remarkable.  Our work continues because there is still SO MUCH to do. 

When you help us, you will feel remarkable too.