Making a difference in the world starts with one’s decision to act; this has been the case for Heidi Dove, who has been making an impact in different communities since May 2016. Dove started Village to Village, a Christian Non-profit organization focused on establishing relationships with communities, giving them resources, and helping them become self-sufficient to have a long-term impact.
“It is always to do something rather than to do nothing,” says Dove as she explains how her board helps her decide how to handle situations and talk through what steps to take next. Village to Village helps in different ways. This includes setting up homes for new refugee families moving into Harrisonburg. The goal is to make the families feel like they are home; the volunteers and Heidi carefully place clean donated clothes for each of the members of the family inside the closets, make the bed with clean sheets, and put basic items in every room, like silverware for the kitchen, furniture in the living room, bathroom necessities, toys, and more.
Other activities done by the non-profit are providing classes in remote villages for villagers to learn about nutrition and English, the latter boosting success in the search for a job; sponsoring children, this means that as a donor it is possible to support children with their education, food, medical care, clothes and other basic necessities. Furthermore, refugee dinners are done by partnering with local churches and volunteers providing a meal and a space for newcomers to meet others.
Village to Village has expanded its horizons since it first began. Guatemala and the United States immigrants are the ones previously mentioned; however, Paraguay, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, and Maldora are other countries that are being positively impacted by Dove’s initiative. Village to Village adopts a village within the country and supports them according to their needs. In Maldora, they provide assistance with trauma care for trafficked children and run a hosting camp for the children in the village, where a foster family supports them until they are able to get back on their feet. In Guatemala, they teach mothers trade and offer English and nutrition classes.
Dove concluded by saying that she is most grateful for the relationships she has made during the years Village to Village has existed, adding that “some people we have helped in their transition to our country now volunteer or host events with me because they are grateful for those that helped them initially.” Anyone can visit Village to Village’s web page by visiting hope4villages.org, where they share upcoming events, projects, and ways to support. There are different ways to support this non-profit organization like donating cash, volunteering, participating in annual fundraising, and donating other items such as clothes, furniture, and cleaning supplies.
