The Chanticleer

Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: Features

Media Credit: Alabama-Guatemala Partners of the Americas Guatemalan children receive shoeboxes filled with presents each year through the Alabama-Guatemala Partners of the Americas. For some of these families, the contents of the shoebox are the only presents given at Christmas. Deadline for turning in boxes is December 15.

Media Credit: Alabama-Guatemala Partners of the Americas

Media Credit: Alabama-Guatemala Partners of the Americas

Imagine that you are in the plaza of a small village in rural Guatemala. Poverty surrounds you. The country is war-torn and weather-stricken. The people are still suffering from a civil war that ended in 1996. Hurricane Stan set their recovery back even farther with flooding and mudslides. With all this in mind, a smiling young girl approaches you holding something precious in her hand. The shoebox man has come through the village. She has something to show you, something the shoebox man gave her, something she's always wanted. She opens her hand - it's a pencil sharpener. Her family had divided the contents of their shoebox among them. That pencil sharpener was her Christmas.

This is not an exaggerated story intended to warm your heart with the spirit of Christmas giving. This actually happened and is still happening. You can ask Dr. George Lauderbaugh and the other Partners of the Americas, a group that promotes interpersonal relationships between states and Central American countries. The group supports people to people programs, such as the shoebox program, because "sometimes government to government programs don't work," says Lauderbaugh.

Though the Shoeboxes for Guatemala program has been in existence for more than 15 years through the Alabama-Guatemala Partners in the Americas, the JSU History Club and Phi Alpha Theta decided to get involved 3 years ago. History Club President Jeff Kretzschmar is excited about the project because "little, simple things can make a tremendous impact." An AM/FM radio can "make a difference to an entire town" says Kretzschmar because it's a new line of communication. "To find out what's going on in the world is a major accomplishment."

What makes this program different than all the other shoebox programs that ship boxes around the world is that a 79 year-old retired NASA engineer, Homer Wilson, drives from Huntsville to Guatemala to personally deliver the boxes. There is no question about families actually getting what people here give. "There are so many kids down there who don't have anything," he says.

In the past, they've had problems getting the boxes through customs in Mexico, but somehow, "Wilson makes it happen" Lauderbaugh says. "He drives right into the villages."

Last year, Wilson gave out over 5,000 boxes from across the state of Alabama. This year, Lauderbaugh is hoping that more than 300 of those boxes will come from the JSU campus. The History Club and Phi Alpha Theta are asking for toys, new clothes, school supplies, and personal hygiene products. Even if you can't fill an entire shoebox, an 88-cent pack of pencils can be divided up among boxes and given to several children. Kretzschmar suggests donating trial size products many students get at the beginning of the year or making a trip to Dollar General. Even $3 can make a huge impact. "We make every penny stretch as far as we can," Kretzschmar says. He's right. Last year, the group used rubber bands to hold together the bulging boxes.

If you can't donate supplies to fill the boxes, donate a box itself. Last year, volunteers working to fill boxes had supplies left over when all the boxes were filled.

The group took over a room in Stone Center to distribute supplies before sending the boxes to Wilson.

To donate to the program, fill a shoebox and attach an index card listing the gender and age group of the child that should receive the box. If you choose to wrap the box, wrap the lid separately. Then, leave the box with Dr. George Lauderbaugh in 309 Stone Center before December 15.

Supplies and boxes can also be dropped off in his office.

With all the customs regulations, it is essential to follow the restrictions when giving to the program. All items must be new. There are laws against used items, such as half-full shampoo bottles and worn clothing. Also, avoid toys that promote violence such as knives and guns.

Though the shoebox program is an important program through the Partners in Americas organization, it is not the only thing they do. In 1967, Alabama was partnered with Guatemala to promote communication between the two peoples. "This is just one of the programs," says Lauderbaugh.

The partners also promote student and cultural exchanges such as bringing native Guatemalans to local schools so students can hear firsthand what life is like in Guatemala. Emylic Batres is one of the many who have made the long journey to tell Alabama students about life in her country. She also works with the partners in Guatemala. She says that it is important for people to donate to the shoebox program, "especially this year because of the storm." Lauderbaugh agrees saying, this is a "particularly important year to get stuff to Guatemala."

For more information about the Shoeboxes for Guatemala program or if you want to help pack boxes, contact Dr. George Lauderbaugh at 782-8044.

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