Photo By Sgt. Daniel Jean-Paul | Chris Nesbitt, center, and his wife Yuko, left, address the crowd at the international...... read more read more
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Members of HelpOki hosted an international fun day March 26 in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.
HelpOki is a nonprofit organization started by retired Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Nesbitt and his wife Yuko. Chris and Yuko started the organization six years ago when the couple came across a homeless man.
“He only had on one shoe and was digging through a trash can looking for food,” said Nesbitt. “I immediately gave him the shoes off my feet and all the money in wallet. That moment really changed my life. I looked at my wife and said ‘We have to do something’ and that’s how HelpOki came about.”
Since 2010, HelpOki’s founders, with the help of volunteers from across the world, have made it their personal mission to help the less fortunate throughout the island of Okinawa. The organization has sponsored everything from donation drives to community cleanups. The group most recent event was an international fun day at the Ishimine Children’s Shelter in Naha.
“We’ve been working with the orphanage for about three years now,” said Nesbitt. “We decided to have an international fun day to bridge the gap between the children in the local community and American children and give them a day to have fun and do what children do.”
The children participated in the smashing of a piñata, an egg-carry relay race, clown show, and a massive game of dodgeball. Along with fun activities, volunteers brought in donations ranging from basketballs to fabric softeners.
According to Tomoko Kinjo, the vice president of the orphanage, HelpOki has been a great help to the orphanage for years.
“For three years HelpOki has been helping in providing the children with the things they need,” said Kinjo. “They are constantly asking not what we want but what we need.’ It’s not just about bringing toys for the children, they bring the necessities. Recently many of the children have been asking for fabric softener for laundry , so HelpOki rounded up donations and brought in fabric softeners for all children.”
For more information on volunteer opportunities and upcoming HelpOki events, visit HelpOki.org or visit their facebook page, facebook.com/theschoolofnewthought.
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2016 19:44 |
| Story ID: | 193737 |
| Location: | NAHA, OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 348 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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