Eagle Scout and Sisters Come Together to Help Haiti

The Sylvania Franciscans have had Sisters ministering in the mountains above Pestel, 90 miles west of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, since 2001. In addition to providing healthcare and the means to clean drinking water for residents in the 14 surrounding villages, the Sisters have created an economic development program to help the Haitians learn how to support themselves.

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A Haitian man builds a new table for the Singer sewing machines the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania will use in their Sewing Center.

Enlarge A Haitian man builds a new table for the Singer sewing machines the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania will ... SYLVANIA FRANCISCANS

Kevin Kretz, a recent graduate of the Toledo Technology Academy and a member of Little Flower parish, leans against one of the Singer sewing machines he helped find that were shipped to Haiti for the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania Sewing Center.

Enlarge Kevin Kretz, a recent graduate of the Toledo Technology Academy and a member of Little Flower parish, leans against one ... SYLVANIA FRANCISCANS

A Haitian woman learns how to operate one of the pedal-operated Singer sewing machines the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania have received to start a small business to help residents learn a trade to make money to support themselves.

Enlarge A Haitian woman learns how to operate one of the pedal-operated Singer sewing machines the Sisters of St. Francis ... SYLVANIA FRANCISCANS