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February 9, 2010
Motorcycle Clubs and Hospital Chaplain Respond with Compassion to the Crisis in Haiti-- by Dr. Belen Gonzalez y Perez
On Sunday January 17th, 2010 I received a phone call from Demon, the TA’s Supreme President, he says “Chaplain Belen, Kase from the FMDs needs you to contact him; they need your help for a Fundraiser to Help the People of Haiti.” I immediately called Kase and learned that the Motorcycle Clubs (M.C. clubs) in Brooklyn and throughout the Metropolitan and surrounding area wanted to schedule a Fundraiser for Haiti on Saturday January 23rd of that same week.
As the chaplain to one of the M.C. clubs, I was being asked to be the custodian of the funds to be raised and to insure that the funds would make their destination to help the people of Haiti. It was my pleasure to do so.
“But to whom should the funds go?” I thought. I began to explore whether any of my fraternal benefit organizations like my insurance company or church affiliates were promoting matching funds initiatives. I was delighted to learn that they were. Donations could be matched one dollar per every two dollars donated. It was a dream for our charity fundraiser for Haiti. We could now raise as much as $1,000 and have it matched with an additional $500.00.
I could not wait to share the news with the M.C. clubs. They rejoiced with me to learn that such could be possible. Not only could we raise funds for Haiti on Saturday but also have our monies grow by the exponential charity of others. This was exciting!
Saturday arrived and that evening I attended the fundraiser for Haiti at the FMDs Dog House club in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, New York. The Dog House was bustling with the M.C. club brothers and sisters that came from near and far. Everyone present was wearing their particular club patches that identify their membership and brotherhood. Their patches have beautiful art work in the form of sculls, bones, crosses. They come in many colors. Most of them wear leather and denim clothing—the choice of bikers. Sticking out like a sore thumb, I wear my club patches too that say “Chaplain Belen” in white bold letters across my left side, with the distinction that I also wear a black cassock and clerical collar identifying me as a member of the clergy.
The night went on and on and the M.C. club members enjoyed their time together for the cause of Haiti. We took pictures with each other, danced, played eight ball on the billiard table, and midway through the morning decided to make the formal announcement that we had reached our fundraiser goal. The music went silent and Kase, our FMD host ushered me to the center of the club with him to announced to all that $1,120.00 was raised and that a matching funds will add an additional $500.00 making it a successful fundraiser in the amount of $1,620.00 for the people of Haiti.
Everyone present applauded at their accomplishment. It was worth more than that. And so it is that this account is a testimony to the efforts and initiative of my fellow M.C. club brothers and sisters that dedicated their time and energy to respond with profound human regard and compassion to the people of Haiti. That very morning I wired the monies to the Lutheran World Relief organization. We are grateful that these resources will reach the people of Haiti in their time of need.
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The Revered Dr. Belen Gonzalez y Perez, Director of Pastoral Care and Education, The Long Island College Hospital of Brooklyn and CPSP Diplomate. Email at BPerez@chpnet.org
Posted by Perry Miller, Editor at February 9, 2010 8:11 PM