School distribution is officially wrapped up!

This past month, our team served 2,783 students as they prepare to begin a new school year. The excitement and joy in their faces remind us why this mission matters so much.

Thanks to the faithfulness of 1,563 individual sponsors, these students—and their families—are experiencing real hope and opportunity. Your generosity is changing not only their futures but their communities as well. We are so grateful for the chance to share God’s love in such a powerful way.

Distribution brings students from all of the schools Mission-Haiti serves to equip them with the items they need for a successful school year and it gives our staff the opportunity for face time with each and every student and remind them that they are seen and loved and that someone is in their corner rooting for them.

Here is a glimpse into a typical day at distribution…

1.     Registration begins: Students and parents line up outside our gate, waiting to get their number for registration. This is a first-come, first-served system, so oftentimes we see people lined up an hour before the gate opens. Once they receive their number, they are ushered inside to our waiting area until their number is called.

2.     Verification & celebration: Once their number is called, they enter the registration room. Here we verify all of the information for each student and hand them their golden ticket to continue through the line. One of the best parts of this room is the opportunity to publicly celebrate students with a high grade point average. It is such an accomplishment to maintain high grades given the adversity these kids face each day, and it is our goal to empower each of our students

3.     Supplies & backpacks: After registration, students pick out their backpack for the year, receive their school supplies, and collect the books they need for their grade level. In Haiti, plastic water bags are often discarded on the streets—but our backpack supplier is turning that problem into opportunity. For the third year in a row, all the backpacks we give to students will be made right here in Haiti—and about 600 of them will be crafted from recycled plastic water bags. Locals collect the bags, which are then washed, cut, pressed, and sewn into durable backpacks and other products. This process not only reduces waste but also creates jobs for many people in the community. We’re proud to partner with Mr. Desrosiers and his talented team—proof that Haitians are leading the way in creativity, sustainability, and community transformation.

4.     Sponsor gifts: Students who received a gift from their sponsor have a moment to open their gifts, read their letters, and revel in the excitement of new items and the love from their sponsor. This year, the most beloved item was a bag of rice—a gift that reaches not only one student but entire families with food.   

5.     Final stop: The photo station!

Yet, the need remains. There are still 506 students waiting for a sponsor. That’s 506 stories ready to be written—futures ready to be shaped.

Would you consider stepping in to sponsor a student, or sharing this opportunity with someone who might? Together, we can make an eternal impact.