Global Philanthropy

Dear Friends,

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, all government services in Haiti have closed and gangs and drug lords have taken over the country. There are no jobs or tourism and the cost of food and fuel has skyrocketed. Remarkably, schools are open and young Haitians are in need of school fees, supplies and book bags this Fall. We hope to initiate a community food distribution project to alleviate the rampant hunger and despair. We provide the Director and Assistant Director of the Community Center and Art and Music teachers with their salaries. They have families and are the sole providers. We hope that you will find it in your hearts to help us maintain our financial support for the ongoing projects that we have built over the last 10 years. The need is urgent. ❤️

If you are able, Please make a tax deductible donation to the Sense of Wonder Creations. (SoWC) Haiti Fund. Please put Haiti Fund in the Memo Line. No donation is too small. We are so appreciative of anything you can offer and are enormously grateful to you for your compassion and generosity. 100% of all donations go directly to Haiti. We do not take out any administration fees. You can go to the Sense of Wonder Creations Home page, scroll down and click on the PayPal button. Remember this is a donation not a purchase. You can also choose to write a check to Sense of Wonder Creations, PO Box 1558, Vineyard Haven, MA, 02568.

We have great news to tell you. Last month we have set up an account at the Martha’s Vineyard Bank that will accept stocks, bonds, mutual funds…. any regulated investments. It would be helpful to you and excellent for Haiti to donate these to our Haiti Fund and not have to pay capital gains.

We have been working with the Director and Assistant Director of the Kai Kok Community Center since 2013 and have found them to be highly trustworthy and responsible. If you scroll down, you can see all the wonderful accomplishments that the (SoWC) Haiti Fund has been able to bring to fruition because of the beautiful generosity and kindness of people like you.

Our Updated Haiti Newsletter For Autumn 2023

Thanks to your wonderful generosity, the SoWC Haiti Fund continues to send supplies and financially support the people of Ile a Vache, Haiti and the Mainland (when needed). We hope that you will find it in your hearts to help us maintain our ongoing projects. In addition to the Ile a Vache Community, we have also supplied Sister Flora’s Orphanage with food relief, art and educational supplies, and funds to pay their staff. In recent years they have been blessed with being aided by a Catholic Diocese in Canada.

Over the years since 2011, we have made several trips to Haiti aboard our schooner Charlotte. On these passages we have brought many supplies for the Haitians, such as tools for the boatbuilders, sails for the fisherman, and educational, art, music and food supplies and solar power products for the Community Center (CC) and Sister Flora’s Orphanage. With Charlotte anchored in the beautiful Port Morgan (Kay Kok) Bay, we were able to invite individuals to stay with us and participate in the projects that benefit the Kay Kok community. We look forward to returning in the near future.

Following the devastation from hurricane Matthew in 2016, SoWC received a generous outpouring of donations for the Haiti Fund. We have been able to partner with other philanthropic organizations to rebuild homes, clean wells, repair cisterns, provide food, replace animals, plant trees, supply seeds and plant gardens.

The Kay Kok town well that was damaged during hurricane Matthew is back in operation. Thanks to generous donations to the (SoWC) Haiti Fund, we were able to assist in funding a project to build a solar powered pumping station. Now the water is pumped to a header tank which feeds a number of water sources in the village.

SoWC continues to fund the art and music programs at the Kay Kok Community Center (CC) since 2017.

The (CC) is the only place where children and young adults can receive free instruction in art, music and basic computer skills. The CC is also a sturdy shelter during a hurricane and earthquake and it provides space for all community events.

Since founding the music program in 2017 a number of accomplished students have formed bands so they can perform at restaurants and hotels. Unfortunately, at this time with the absence of a government or police force, there are no opportunities for live performance. However, thanks to your generosity, the lessons continue and SoWC provides the instruments, instruction and voice lessons for generations to come.

Because of your continued support of the Haiti fund we have been able to purchase sound equipment and speakers, locally constructed conga drums, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, harmonicas and some steel drums. We have also purchased and sent, via our friend’s sailboat, three drum kits, six electric guitars and will be sending more instruments this Fall. If you would like to donate to purchase more musical instruments, just let us know.

We have sent funds for educational supplies and backpacks every Fall since 2017.
Each child receives a backpack, notebook, pens, pencils, protractor and ruler. We have worked closely with the Kay Kok Community Center (CC) since 2013. The Director and assistant Director of the (CC) have not been paid a salary from the Haitian Government since 2015. Please help us fill that gap.

The SoWC Haiti Fund has donated funds to lease a 4.5 acre garden beginning in 2018.

Please help us to lease more acres of land. The Haiti Fund pays for the lease and planting of the community garden, purchase of fruit and nut trees and feed for the chickens and goats. The garden has been planted, beautifully maintained and is flourishing with vegetable crops for the community. We also purchased 1. 3 acres of land to cultivate fruit and nut trees. In April, 2020 we donated enough funds for the local people to build a goat shed, chicken coop, chicken tractor and purchase 75 chickens and 12 goats. We sent them funds to lease another piece of land for the chickens and goats to graze. In November 2019 we funded the purchase of supplies and labor for the irrigation system at the Community Garden. They were able to buy a water tank, create the cement structure for the well, purchase and install a solar powered water pump and all the water pipes and fittings.

In August 2021 a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the Haitian Southern peninsula causing huge damage to buildings. 2,248 people died and 650,000 were in need of assistance. The Sense of Wonder Haiti Fund raised funds to purchase bags of rice, beans, oil and other food supplies to be passed out to the people of Aux Cayes and the southern coast of Haiti.

Île-à-Vache is alive with wooden boat building. There is activity on every beachfront. On these well-crafted vessels, the fishermen cast and haul their nets in Biblical fashion, then sail home to sell their catch at the market and feed their families. Fishing and farming are the means of livelihood for most Haitians. At this time, there are no facilities to haul, repair and maintain the boats. We have proposed to build a slipway and a small woodworking shop on the Kay Kok harbor. After several meetings with town and island officials, local businessmen and waterfront property owners, all parties have responded in favor of the project. At the moment this project is on hold as the country recovers from the current political situation.  

The Haiti Fund sent funds to pay a group of young Haitians to help clean the beaches along the harbor of Kay Kok in 2018. Sadly there is a constant flow of bottles and plastic trash floating in from the mainland and beyond that wash up on the beautiful beaches of Ile a Vache. We hope this will be a catalyst to inspire volunteers to keep it clean on regular basis.

The CC received a very needed face lift thanks to your generous contributions in November 2022. We sent 35 gallons of paint and painting supplies for them via our friend’s sailboat and they immediately went to work to bring the CC back to it’s original colorful radiance.

In April 2023, the Haiti Fund contributed funds for the purchase of 600 fruit and nut trees to distribute to 100 families. This will help to feed and provide an income for them as well. ❤️ ❤️

We sincerely thank all of you for your kind and generous hearts who have donated to this beautiful Haitian community. If you would like to help keep these projects moving forward, please write a check or make a pay pal donation. Make out your tax-deductible donation payable to:

Sense of Wonder Creations
(Note: “Haiti Fund” on the memo line)
P.O. Box 1558 Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Online donations may be made to the Sense of Wonder Creations website homepage. Click on the Pay Pal donate button, and write “Haiti Fund” in the message line. Remember that this would be a donation, not a purchase. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law and SoWC does not take out any administrative fees. 100% of the funds are passed on to Haiti. We wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas.

With Lots of Love and Gratitude,
Pam and Nat Benjamin

Haiti Newsletter Fall 2022

Click here to download as a PDF

Dear Friends,

The Sense of Wonder Creations (SoWC) Haiti Fund continues to help and support the people of Ile a Vache, Haiti. To get right to the point, this Fall they have asked us to fund school supplies and backpacks for 200 children which will cost as much as $6000. If you want to help 50 children that will come to $1500, 10 children will be $300 and 5 children $150. They would also greatly benefit from being able to purchase more avocado, mango, banana, fruit and nut trees and assistance in maintaining their community garden. That would help to feed and provide an income for them as well. Thank you so much for your continued generosity, empathy and kindness.
The people of Ile a Vache and the mainland are still suffering from the earthquake disasters, hurricanes, assassination of their president, gang violence and from the complete lack of any income, government help or tourism. The cost of food and fuel has skyrocketed. They are a resilient people, but the epoch turn of events is effecting everyone. Below is our updated Haiti Newsletter for 2022/23.

If you are able, Please make a tax deductible donation to our Haiti Fund. You can go to the Sense of Wonder Creations Home page and scroll down and click on the PayPal button. Remember this is a donation not a purchase. When you make your donation, please put Haiti Fund in the memo line. We give 100% of all contributions directly to Haiti. We have been working with the Director and Assistant Director of the Kay Kok Community Center since 2013 and have found them to be highly trustworthy and responsible. . If you scroll down, we have explained below all the wonderful accomplishments that the (SoWC) Haiti Fund has been able to bring to fruition because of the generosity and kindness of people like you.

Our Updated Haiti Newsletter For 2022/23

Sense of Wonder Creations is involved with several projects on Île-à-Vache, a beautiful little island seven miles off the southwest coast of Haiti. Nat, Pam’s husband, has sailed to Haiti three times from Vineyard Haven with boatloads of supplies for Northern Haiti, Sister Flora’s Orphanage, and the Ile a Vache Community bringing used sails, rigging and fishing gear for the fishermen, tools for the local boat builders, as well as bags of dried beans and rice, educational supplies, art and music materials and equipment and more. Nat sailed to northern Haiti in 2011 and then we have sailed or flown to southern Haiti every year since 2014 and brought them bags of supplies except 2021 because of the pandemic and the current gang violence.

The Sense of Wonder Haiti Fund continues to help and support the people of Ile a Vache Haiti. We have paid the art and music teacher salaries through September 2022. We also pay for the lease and planting of the community garden and grazing land, purchase of fruit and nut trees, chickens and goats, feed the chickens and goats, send disaster relief when needed, and pay for school fees. When we are able we send them funds in the Fall to purchase backpacks and school supplies.

In September of 2017 and 2018 we sent money for school supplies for 400 children. We have continued to help with educational supplies and school tuition when we can. Each child received a backpack, notebook, pens, pencils, protractor and ruler. We have worked closely with the Kay Kok Community Center since 2013.

In August 2021 a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the Haitian Southern peninsula causing huge damage to buildings. 2,248 people died and 650,000 were in need of assistance. The Sense of Wonder Haiti Fund sent $7500 to pay for bags of rice, beans, oil and other food supplies to be passed out to the people of Aux Cayes and the southern coast of Haiti.

Île-à-Vache is alive with wooden boat building. There is activity on every beachfront. They cast and haul their nets in Biblical fashion, then sail home to sell at the market and feed their families. Fishing and farming are the means of livelihood for most Haitians. At this time, there are no facilities to haul, repair and maintain the boats. We have proposed to build a slipway and a small woodworking shop on the Kay Kok harbor. After several meetings with town and island officials, local businessmen and waterfront property owners, all parties have responded in favor of the project. At the moment this project is on hold as the country recovers from the current political situation.

SoWC has provided funding for the art and founded and funds the music programs. The Community Center is the only place where children and young adults can receive free instruction in art, music and basic computer skills. They have learned enough about playing instruments in the past five years to earn money and perform at hotels and events. We have purchased performance, sound equipment and speakers for them. We gave funds to the Community Center to purchase conga drums, acoustic guitars, keyboards and we brought down recorders, harmonicas and some steel drums. We have also purchased and sent, via our friend’s sailboat, three drum kits, six electric guitars and will be sending more instruments this Fall. If you would like to donate to the purchasing more musical instruments, just let us know.

The Kay Kok town well that was damaged during hurricane Matthew is back in operation. Thanks to generous donations to the (SoWC) Haiti Fund, we were able to assist in funding a project to build a pumping station. Now the water is pumped to a header tank at the top of the hill, which feeds a number of water sources in the village and is powered by solar panels.

SoWC has donated funds to lease a 2.5 acre garden. The garden has been planted, beautifully maintained and is flourishing with vegetable crops for the community and we purchased 1. 3 acres of land for them with fruit and nut trees. If we can raise more funds they could increase the size of their garden and would be able to feed more people and plant more fruit and nut trees. Please help us to lease 6 acres of land again. A few years ago we donated enough funds for the local people to build a goat shed, chicken coop, chicken tractor and purchase 75 chickens and 12 goats. We sent them funds to lease another piece of land for the chickens and goats to graze. In November 2019 we funded the purchase of supplies and labor for the irrigation system at the Community garden: water tank, digging and cement for the well, solar powered water pump and all the water pipes and fittings.

Sense of Wonder Creations
(Note: “Haiti Fund” on the memo line)
P.O. Box 1558 Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Haiti Newsletter Fall 2021

Click here to download as a PDF

Dear Friends:

The devastation on the Southern Peninsula and on Ile a Vache, Haiti is heartbreaking. We know that you are kind and compassionate people. If you are able, Please make a tax deductible donation to our Haiti Fund. You can go the Sense of Wonder Creations Home page http://www.senseofwondercreations.org and scroll down and click on the paypal button. Remember this is a donation not a purchase. When you make your donation, please put Haiti Fund in the memo line. We give 100% of all contribu-tions directly to Haiti. We have been working with the Director and Assistant Director of the Kay Kok Community Center since 2012 and have found them to be highly trustworthy and responsible. As you can see below, working together, there has been a lot of progress in Ile a Vache, Haiti as a result of generous people like you. Thank you so much in advance for your kindness and generosity. ❤️

The 7.2 earthquake last week was centered right near Ile a Vache, the island we sail and fly to every year. Aux Cayes is the city on the mainland that is very close and has suffered with growing numbers of deaths and injuries every day. They also had a hurricane pass by last week. We need your help as soon as possible to feed the poor and homeless, rebuild houses, find shelter, and give emergency aid and supplies to all the residents possible.

In September of 2017 and 2018 we sent money for school supplies for 400 children. We have continued to help with educational supplies and school tuition when we can. Each child received a backpack, notebook, pens, pencils, protractor and ruler. Over the past 5 years, we have worked closely with the Kay Kok Community Center.

SoWC has provided funding for the art program and has paid the music and art teachers’ salaries through 2021. The Community Center is the only place where children and young adults can receive free instruction in art, music and basic computer skills. They have learned enough about playing instruments in the past five years to earn money and perform at hotels and events. We have purchased performance sound equipment and speakers for them also. We gave funds to the Community Center to purchase conga drums, acoustic guitars keyboards and we brought down recorders, harmonicas and some steel drums and purchased and sent, via our friend’s sailboat, a drum kit and two electric guitars and are sending more instruments this Fall.

Île-à-Vache is alive with wooden boat building. There is activity on every beachfront. They cast and haul their nets in Biblical fashion, then sail home to sell at the market and feed their families. Fishing and farming are the means of livelihood for most Haitians. At this time, there are no facilities to haul, repair and maintain the boats. We have proposed to build a slipway and a small woodworking shop on the Kay Kok harbor. After several meetings with town and island officials, local businessmen and waterfront property owners, all parties have responded in favor of the project.

SoWC has donated funds to lease a 6.1 acre community garden that has been planted, beautifully maintained and is flourishing with vegetable crops for the community. Last year we donated enough funds for the local people to build a goat shed, chicken coop, chicken tractor and purchase 75 chickens and 12 goats. We sent them funds to lease another piece of land for the goats and chickens to graze.

Sense of Wonder Creations is involved with several projects on Île-à-Vache, a beautiful little island seven miles off the southwest coast of Haiti. Nat, Pam’s husband has sailed to Haiti three times from Vineyard Haven with boatloads of supplies for Sister Flora’s Orphanage, and the Haitian Community bringing used sails, rigging and fishing gear for the fishermen, tools for the local boat builders, as well as bags of dried beans and rice, educational supplies, art and music materials and equipment and more.

We sincerely thank all of you who have donated to the Haitian community. If you would like to help keep these projects moving forward, please make your tax-deductible donation payable to: Sense of Wonder Creations. Note: “Haiti Fund” on the memo line. P.O. Box 1558 Vineyard Haven, Ma. 02568. Online donations may be made to the SoWC website homepage . Click on the Pay Pal donate button, and write “Haiti Fund” in the message line. Remember that this would be a donation, not a purchase. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law and SoWC does not take out any administrative fees. 100% of the funds are passed on to Haiti.

We wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas, With Lots of Love and Gratitude, Pam and Nat Benjamin

Haiti Newsletter Spring / Summer 2019

Dear Friends, Sense of Wonder Creations is involved in several projects on Île-à-Vache, a beautiful little island seven miles off the south west coast of Haiti. Nat, Pam’s husband has sailed to Haiti three times from Vineyard Haven with boatloads of supplies for Sister Flora’s Orphanage and the Haitian Community bringing used sails, rigging and fishing gear for the fishermen, tools for the local boat builders, as well as bags of dried beans and rice, educational supplies, art materials and more. We have also traveled to Haiti by plane three times which includes taking an airplane, bus, motorbike and pirogue with duffel bags of supplies. It’s always an adventure, regardless of the types of vessels employed to get there.

We have made progress on several fronts:

The Kay Kok town well that was damaged during hurricane Matthew is back in operation. Thanks to generous donations to Pam’s 501c3 nonprofit, Sense of Wonder Creations (SoWC), we were able to assist in funding a project to build a pumping station. Now the water is pumped to a header tank at the top of the hill, which feeds a number of water sources in the village and is powered by solar panels. It is so gratifying to see the residents access water without having to climb a steep trail and lug five-gallon buckets on their heads. Before the solar panels were installed they had a gasoline pump and the fuel had to be brought to the island in jugs by boat from Les Cayes, and carried to the well. Gas is expensive and the pump required maintenance.

Following the devastation from hurricane Matthew in 2016, SoWC received a generous outpouring of donations for the Haiti Fund. We have been able to partner with other philanthropic organizations to rebuild homes, clean wells, repair cisterns, provide food, replace animals, plant trees, supply seeds and plant gardens. Île-à-Vache is on the road to recovery. In September of 2017 and 2018 we sent money for school supplies for 400 children. Each child received a backpack, notebook, pens, pencils, protractor and ruler. Over the past 5 years, we have worked closely with the Kay Kok Community Center. Two and half years ago SoWC donated money to purchase guitars, drums, keyboards, recorders and couple of steel drums. SoWC has provided funding for the art program and has paid the teachers’ salaries through 2019. The Community Center is the only place where children and young adults can receive free instruction in art, music and basic computer skills. Saturday nights they can hang out, watch a movie, and play music with their friends. They have learned enough in the past two years to earn money and perform at hotels and events. We have purchased performance sound equipment and speakers for them that will be delivered in May. SoWC has brought Craig Saunders, a Hydrogeologist, to test the wells and help with the construction of the new solar powered well. SoWC has also brought the legendary Vineyard drummer, Rick Bausman and the family chorus conductor Roberta Kirn to drum and sing with the young people. Rick has fallen in Love with Haiti and will be returning on a regular basis to help restore traditional Haitian Rhythms to the people of Haiti. SoWC has also donated funds to lease a 2.5 acre community garden that has been planted, beautifully maintained and is flourishing with vegetable crops for the community. We have also established an Educational Fund to assist in paying for those young people who cannot afford to attend school or purchase books and supplies.

Île-à-Vache is alive with wooden boat building. There is activity on every beachfront. Designed by eye, and hand made with axe and machete, these traditional small craft can be seen under sail in the bays, sounds and offshore. They cast and haul their nets in Biblical fashion, then sail home to sell at the market and feed their families. Fishing and farming are the means of livelihood for most Haitians. At this time, there are no facilities to haul, repair and maintain the boats. We have proposed to build a slipway and a small woodworking shop on the Kay Kok harbor. After several meetings with town and island officials, local businessmen and waterfront property owners, all parties have responded in favor of the project.

Last winter, we located a ¾ acre piece of property for sale at the head of the harbor. It’s a level vacant lot with a white sand beach. Nat snorkeled seaward two hundred feet or so looking through clear water at the smooth sandy bottom to a depth of 12 feet – just the right slope for a marine railway. I hope to sign a long-term lease sometime soon and proceed with our plans. We are confident that this facility will provide much needed employment and create a space where traditional boatbuilding skills will be passed down to future generations.

We sincerely thank all of you who have donated to the Haitian community. If you would like to help keep these projects moving forward, please make your tax-deductible donation payable to:

Sense of Wonder Creations.
Note: “Haiti Fund” on the memo line.
P.O. Box 1558 Vineyard Haven, Ma. 02568.

On line donations may be made to the SoWC website homepage . Click on the Pay Pal donate button, and write “Haiti Fund” in the message line.
Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law and SoWC does not take out any administrative fees. 100% of the funds are passed on to Haiti.

We wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas, With Lots of Love and Gratitude, Nat and Pam Benjamin

For further information, See also:

Nat’s publication: Passage to Haiti
The Vineyard Gazette Article: Heading Out to Sea to Share the Bounty by Katherine Scott
The MV Times Article: Nat Benjamin sails Charlotte into warm welcome in Haiti and Cuba

Sense Of Wonder Creations