Next month Bruce Brown will make his first trip to Port au Prince, Haiti, one of a half dozen intrepid West Shore citizens who have committed time and money to dramatically improve safety and sanitation at the Divine Hands orphanage.

Brown, a former staff sergeant with West Shore RCMP, has supported many charities and organizations over the years, including helping his wife raise several thousand dollars for another Haiti orphanage through Strawberry Vale elementary.

He figures itB次元官网网址檚 time for him to get his hands dirty.

B次元官网网址淓ven though IB次元官网网址檇 been involved with fundraising, I felt I needed to go down there, and be out there, and do it myself,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淣ot just give money and not just help out from this side of the world. But go down and help physically. IB次元官网网址檓 fortunate enough IB次元官网网址檓 still healthy enough that I can go down and pound nails.B次元官网网址�

Brown went to New York just days after 9/11 with Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett and Mayor Stew Young. That was when Brown really got to know the chief, he says.

Beckett has been the driving force behind the projects in Haiti, from the first city-sponsored trip to rebuild the Jesus of Prague orphanage after a devastating earthquake in 2010, to the current plan to go down in September.

B次元官网网址淏ob approached me and asked if IB次元官网网址檇 be interested in helping out,B次元官网网址� Brown says. B次元官网网址淚 thought it was about time I actually went down.B次元官网网址�

Rick Fisher of Glenwood Meats in Langford had a similar experience with the fire chief and says he couldnB次元官网网址檛 say no to Beckett.

B次元官网网址淏ob was, and still is, a regular customer of ours,B次元官网网址� Fisher says. B次元官网网址淓very time heB次元官网网址檇 come into the meat market, IB次元官网网址檇 ask how the project was going and mentioned IB次元官网网址檇 like to help. And he said, B次元官网网址榓nytime you want to come down.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

FisherB次元官网网址檚 first trip was life-changing, he says. B次元官网网址淚 had an idea how poor the country was, but when I got down there, I was shocked.B次元官网网址�

After a half-dozen trips, Fisher says, the initial shock has worn off, but the drive to help is as strong as ever.

B次元官网网址淭here are still buildings that are a crumbled mess, still people living in shacks, but itB次元官网网址檚 just amazing what the city of Langford did for those kids living in the orphanage,B次元官网网址� he says.

B次元官网网址淥n my first trip I said to Bob, B次元官网网址業 went down to Haiti to make a difference,B次元官网网址� but when I came back, I think I changed my life more.B次元官网网址�

Beckett and Dan Reynolds, a retired building inspector also with the team, travelled to Haiti earlier this year to assess the site. The initial goals for the Divine Hands orphanage project include installing a safety cover for the current well, providing a roof for the outdoor pit-toilet, building an outdoor cookhouse and installing an exterior solar-powered light for security and safety.

For Brown, the trip is an opportunity for him to give back in a way that a lot of people arenB次元官网网址檛 able to.

B次元官网网址淭here are people who want to go, but donB次元官网网址檛 have the money or the time,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 felt it was time for me to step up. IB次元官网网址檓 privileged to be able to go and help out.B次元官网网址�

Donations for the project are being accepted through Langford Fire Rescue, the Rotary Club of Colwood and at www.helpforhaiti.ca.

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com