Dominican Republic Mitten Outreach Trip

Hi All!

I know it's been a while... but I'm back!!

The past few months have honestly been insane. Finishing junior year was, without a doubt, the hardest and most grueling few months of my life. But now that it's officially over, I'm so excited to put more energy into the parts of my life I've been neglecting... including this blog.

It's already been a month since school ended, and somehow I've managed to pack a lot into those four weeks. I finally read an entire book for fun (!!!), Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, which I 100% recommend if you're looking for your next read. I'm officially in my Kazuo Ishiguro era, so Klara and the Sun and The Remains of the Day are next on my summer reading list.

But reading wasn't the biggest thing I did this month.

I also flew to an entirely different country to help expand The Mitten internationally.

This trip was a combination of a family vacation and Mitten work, which made it one of the busiest—and definitely one of the most meaningful trips I've taken.

You might be wondering... why the Dominican Republic?

Honestly, it all started because two longtime Mitten supporters, Mery Elvis and her daughter Mery Taveras, reached out about potentially partnering with us. At first I was hesitant because, well... I don't speak Spanish. Like... at all. Other than "hola" and "agua," that's about where my vocabulary ends.

But since they were both willing to help translate, I figured why let language be the thing that stops us from helping more people?

Before leaving in late June, we organized a clothing drive in New York. It was definitely on the smaller side since we were collecting donations from my apartment building, but I was honestly blown away by how generous everyone was. By the end, we had filled two giant suitcases with clothing to bring to the Dominican Republic.

Before the donation days, we spent time adding little Mitten touches to everything. We attached tags with short handwritten notes because I always want people receiving our donations to know that they're more than just clothes: they're reminders that someone, somewhere, is thinking about them.

Over the next two days, we visited two different organizations.

Red de Misericordia

Our first stop was Red de Misericordia, an organization in Santiago that provides care and protection for children and victims of abuse.

I'll admit, before arriving, I expected the visit to feel incredibly heavy. I mean... we were visiting an orphanage. But instead, the first thing I noticed was how colorful everything was.

The staff greeted us with huge smiles, and several young women immediately helped carry in our donations while introducing us to the organization. I spent the first few minutes smiling and nodding because, once again... no Spanish. Thankfully, Mery Elvis translated for me, and I was able to learn much more about their mission and how the organization began.

Getting greeted at the entrance

One of the coolest things I learned was that Red de Misericordia accepts international volunteers who come to teach the children for extended periods of time. Some volunteers have traveled from as far away as Korea. I even learned about one volunteer who arrived without speaking any Spanish and left four years later completely fluent.

Because of this volunteer program, the organization actually has its own hotel where volunteers stay during their time there.

While touring the hotel, we happened to run into a volunteer group from Grace Baptist Church in Nebraska. I got to talk with one of their longtime volunteers, who has been returning for nearly twenty years and helped build many of Red de Misericordia's international partnerships. Watching him effortlessly switch between Spanish and English every few seconds was honestly so impressive.

Grace Baptist Church group leader

Afterward, we toured the main compound.

As soon as you walk through the iron gates, you're greeted by a wall covered in colorful butterflies. Each butterfly has the name of a volunteer or donor who has supported the organization over the years.

butterfly wall

Walking around, I noticed that every little detail felt intentional. The walls were covered with bright murals, and the gymnasium had been transformed into a graduation hall. Every graduating student had their own display featuring both a graduation photo and a baby picture, along with a personalized letter written just for them.

Though they were only small details, this is what resonated with me the most. It made me realize that the organization wasn't just providing shelter but was also ensuring a normal and happy childhood for these children.

Hogar de Niñas

The next day, we visited Hogar de Niñas, a Catholic shelter run by nuns for young girls.

Unlike many shelters, most of the girls living there actually have parents. However, because of mental health struggles, family instability, or other difficult circumstances, their families aren't currently able to care for them. Hogar de Niñas steps in to provide a safe and stable environment, offering everything from on-site therapy to a strong community of caregivers and other girls.

The campus itself was much smaller than Red de Misericordia, housing around fifty girls.

Photo of the compound

Small blue cabins lined the road, each divided by age group. We toured one of the cabins for younger girls, where everyone slept together in a large dorm-style bedroom. One detail I couldn't stop noticing was that every bed had matching but personalized princess blankets. It was such a simple thing, but it made the room feel warm and comforting instead of institutional.

Our guide, one of the nuns, also lived in that cabin with the girls so she could care for them throughout the day.

Photo with our tourguide

Although Hogar de Niñas wasn't as large or as well-funded as the previous organization, it was obvious how much love had gone into building the community there. They organize weekend trips around the country, provide educational opportunities, and work hard to prepare the girls for successful futures.

One thing that really stuck with me was learning about their financial situation.

Because the shelter is run through the local church, they don't receive nearly as much support as they need. They explained that many donated items are actually sold in nearby rural communities so they can purchase essentials that better match their current needs.

We donated our second suitcase of clothing there, but after hearing more about their challenges, I left feeling like we could do more, and so on the drive back, I started brainstorming ideas for a future fundraiser dedicated specifically to supporting Hogar de Niñas.

Final Thoughts

This trip honestly changed the way I think about shelters and orphanages. Growing up, I think I subconsciously imagined every shelter looking like something out of Annie: someplace where kids simply wished they could leave. Of course, I can't speak for every child's experience, but what I saw during these visits challenged a lot of my assumptions.

Both organizations worked incredibly hard to create places where children felt safe, supported, and genuinely cared for. It reminded me that while these organizations can always use more resources, they're also filled with people who dedicate their lives to giving these children the best future they possibly can.

Seeing firsthand where our donations were going made all of the work behind The Mitten feel so much more real. It reminded me why I started this organization in the first place and made me even more excited to continue growing The Mitten internationally so we can reach even more communities in the future.

I've also included the GoFundMe link below, so if you have the means, even a couple of dollars can make a difference for these kids. Please support!

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next post!