The Endless Mother's Day

For the Skip1.org team, Mother's Day was more than just one day this year. It stretched on for several weeks, especially because of a very special mother living in the Dominican Republic.

Last October, Shelene Bryan, founder of Skip1.org, and Cheril Hendry traveled with a team to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. While in the DR, they met a young mother whose story was heartbreaking. Neither Shelene or Cheril could forget her. Both women hung a photograph of her in their offices as a reminder of the mission of Skip1.org. She became the focus of the "Skip for Mother's Day" campaign. "She is why we are Skipping. No mother's biggest worry should be food and clean water for her children," became Shelene's refrain.

In honor of Mother's Day in the U.S. May 9, a large group of "Skippers" skipped lunch and packed food boxes at a Children's Hunger Fund warehouse. Shelene shared the young mother's story.

Last week, Shelene and Cheril were part of a Skip1.org team that returned to the DR. In addition to visiting schools and distributing food packs, their deep hope was to find the mother again.

Last Thursday, their wish came true. Just in time for Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic on May 30.

Her name is Elfiz (el pheez) Joseph. She has had a new baby since October. The three women were reunited in the common bond of being a mother, something that needed no translator. Now we all know her name, and in her honor we Skip so she and other mothers will have food and water for their children. Happy Mother's Day Elfiz!