Dear MEI Partners,

We are pleased to report that after 24 long years, we now have a new, modern Zinc roof, which is painted white to reduce the heat of the sun. Thank you to the gracious donor for their gift for this much needed Special Project.  For many, many years, the old asphalt shingle roof has been continuously patched, but patching efforts have no longer been enough. With a recent heavy rain, there were 12 leaks requiring buckets.

Why a Zinc roof you might ask?  Certainly if you live in the United States, a Zinc roof probably is not the first one that comes to mind. While 70% of Europe’s residential roofs are made of zinc, it’s not nearly as popular in the US. Besides being striking in appearance, zinc panels can last for nearly a century with very little to no maintenance required.  One additional benefit is rainwater now flows quickly and efficiently into the gutter system, delivering precious water to the water tanks.

Another blessing is the completed extension to the old concrete generator building, in order to house the recently donated tractor.  The extension was designed and built by Doel, with the assistance of his son, Doelsito, both of Helene’s own.  The timing of the building’s completion also enabled the installation of the same durable, long-lasting Zinc roof.

A Special Project Sponsor Opportunity:

Now with a new, long-lasting, maintenance-free roof, we need to likewise replace the Helene site building’s old exterior doors.  In Honduras, and especially in the Bay Islands, doors are not standard sizes. We need to have a local craftsman build custom, solid hardwood, fiberglass covered doors for each doorway.  The same is true for the corresponding metal security doors.  A local metal worker needs to weld/build these doors on-site.  The total expense, including local labor, to construct and hang these door sets (metal and wood) is $5,000.   

If you would like to donate for this critical project or to one of our needed Special Projects listed on our Special Projects webpage, you can use the “Donate Today” button below. 

As you donate to the Special Projects Fund, please note in the comment field if you would like your gift used for a specific project: