Kirtland Couple Makes a Difference
by Julie A. Meyers The Kirtland Gazette While the majority of us were enjoying the holidays visiting with friends and family in our comfortable homes, laden with festive decorations and food, Pat and Bob Grisar, spent their holiday with strangers. The Kirtland couple didn't celebrate around a Christmas tree or sing carols by an open fire. Instead, the couple chose to share their Christmas spirit among the hungry and poor of the Dominican Republic. On December23, 2000, Pat and Bob left for the villages near Puerto Plata, a city in the Dominican Republic which is located in the West Indies. Delivering over 3,000 Ibs of donated clothing and supplies, the Grisars gave the village people a Christmas to remember. Their gesture of goodwill has had far reaching effects and has touched the lives of hundreds of men, women, and children.	Pat Grisar poses with a family in a mountain village near Puerto Plata in the dominican Republic. She spent the holidays distributing over 3,000 lbs. of clothing and supplies to the village people there.
The couple's journey began last Thanksgiving, when they took a trip to the Dominican Republic for a vacation. It was a trip that changed the course of-their lives. Pat and Bob traveled to the mountain villages and were stunned by what they saw. '1 couldn't stop thinking about the children and the poverty they endured each day," she said. "I walked away from the village school, which is a room with dirt floors and a thatched roof with holes in the walls, in tears." She explained that the village has a "community kitchen" that all the people share. "The whole village uses the same pots and they eat right out of them because there are no dishes or utensils." Pat is no stranger to poverty, having grown up in a family of ten children in Southern Ohio. Her childhood left her with a deep compassion and commitment to children growing up in poverty. "Our home had no running water or an indoor toilet until I was }4 years old. We used logs for heat," Pat said "I could really relate to those children.”	Moved by the profound desolation of the people, the couple decided they wanted to help. Consequently, the Rainbow Families Foundation (www.rainbow- families.org.) was born. Rainbow Families is a non profit-humanitarian relief organization founded by the couple to organize their efforts to continue to help those in need. The Grisars immediately set about collecting clothing and other donated items. They spent hours laundering, sorting, and organizing the items in their home on Hemlock Ridge. "The generosity of the community has been overwhelming and we have been very moved by their support," said Pat. The trip originally was to last a week; however, Bob came back to the United States to return to his job and Pat ended up staying until January 19. According to Bob, Pat stayed on longer because she wanted to personally deliver the clothing.	"There is a great deal of corruption in the Dominican Republic, and we, I wanted to be sure that the clothing I got to those who most needed them," said Bob. Pat and her volunteer helpers went into the mountains and made care packages for families. "Each member of the family received three outfits, which is enough to last a year," Bob added. Pat's extended stay enabled her to meet with the Dominican Republic “Defensa Civil”, which is a political organization similar to the United State's FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). She was able, through an interpreter, to discuss her concern regarding policies and procedures pertaining to customs, which she hopes will facilitate her entrance into the country on her next visit.
Pat is encouraged by the recent change of leadership in the country and hopes that steps will be taken to alleviate the devastating poverty from which these villages suffer. During her stay, she held several meetings with the Colonel of the "Defensa Civil" and discussed ways in which the government can work toward providing a better economy and assist in alleviating the corruption that exists. The Grisars have many stories to share of their moving experience. One, in particular, involved an 11 year old boy named Wilson, who was suffering from a skin disease and was covered with lesions on his entire body. His family was unable to afford medical treatment. Pat arranged a meeting with the Rotary International, an organization that is part of the Rotary Clubs in Lake County. After a presentation to the club, with the help of an interpreter, Pat was able to arrange for medical treatment and follow-up care that was donated by Dr. Camile Crespo.	Pat Grisar and a village family
Pat extended her stay and paid for extra medical care that was not donated, out of her own pocket. "It was a small price to pay to know that Wilson would be treated and able to become a self-assured and healthy boy," Pat said. As a matter of fact, the majority of the trip was personally funded by the couple, who paid over $4,500 in shipping costs, as well as Pat's expenses while she stayed there. The couple is planning the next trip sometime in April. The coming months will entail organizing clothing, shoes, medical supplies, and other donations for the trip.	In addition to clothing and shoes, Pat stresses the need for school supplies, coloring books, pencils, pens, candles, toothpaste, toothbrushes, surgical gloves, blankets, and soap. "I would like to reach out to the dentists and doctors of the community that might be able to donate some of these items," she said. Monetary donations are especially appreciated to help defray the cost of shipping the items. "I feel that everything that has happened is more than coincidental. I believe that I am destined to do this work," she said. Her husband, Bob, shares her enthusiasm and belief that they are making a difference. "Pat has accomplished so much in such a short time," he said. "I am so very proud of her."	Editors note: Please deliver all clothing, supplies and donations to 8543 Hemlock Ridge Drive, Kirtland, Ohio 44094 by March 15. Please call to arrange for a pick up, if needed, or if you would like to volunteer to help launder and prepare the items for shipping. Monetary do- nations are especially appreciated to help defray the cost of shipping. Please send all monetary donations to The Rainbow Families Foundation, 8543 Hemlock Ridge Drive, Kirtland, Ohio 44094. You can get more information and view pictures by logging onto the website: http://www.rainbow-families.org