MARCH 2026 NEWSLETTER

Become a Love in Action Partner

Our core mission— to transform together, to be love in action —is a long-haul commitment to the communities of Haiti and Abaco. A generous onetime gift is wonderful, but it’s the steady, consistent support of our monthly donors that provides the mortar to build a lasting foundation. This reliable stream of generosity is what truly enables us to be the ones that stay for the long run, no matter what.

is the predictable

we need to plan and commit to long-term transformation, even during unexpected needs or economic uncertainty.

gives

peace of mind, knowing your resources are consistently doing

longterm change over time.

Beyond the"X"

Imagine being an adult who cannot read or write, forced to sign your name with an 'x' in a world that demands literacy. “

In the rural communities of Haiti, a silent barrier often stands between a parent and their full potential: the inability to read or write. As we kick off this new year, Many Hands is celebrating the profound transformation occurring through its Adult Literacy classes, an initiative that is helping hundreds of parents move "Beyond the X" and into a new world of opportunity.

The Weight of the "X"

Mark Kauk, U.S. Lead for Leadership, emphasizes the profound struggle faced by those who are illiterate, stating, "Imagine being an adult who cannot read or write, forced to sign your name with an 'x' in a world that demands literacy". Because literacy is essential for everything from commerce to church leadership, the inability to read is not merely a technical deficiency; it deeply affects a person's dignity.

This barrier does not just affect the individual; it impacts the next generation. Parents who cannot read often feel they lack

the ability to encourage their own children's education. One parent in the program shared their motivation clearly, "With the help of God, I will be able to read and write in Kreyòl. I want to help my children in school."

A Grassroots Movement

The program was born not from a top-down mandate, but from the vision of local Haitian educators. Preschool teachers Juna Jean and Patricia Souverin developed an action plan to offer literacy training to the parents of their students. What began as a pilot course in Sylvain has now expanded across the Jean Boule and Maliarette campuses.

The journey for these adult learners is rarely easy. Attending classes twice a week requires immense grit, often involving finding caregivers for children, caring for sick family members, and walking long distances through oppressive heat and humidity. Many Hands staff have witnessed mothers attending class with a fussing child asleep on their lap, proving a resolve that challenges us to reflect on our own determination.

"Beyond

BEYOND THE "X"

The

"Mwen Kontan Wè Ou" Moment

One of the most powerful moments in the program occurred during a final week of testing in Sylvain. Craig Gabhart, Many Hands’ Haiti Operations Officer, quizzed the class on their progress. Together, the group confidently joined their voices to read aloud the sentence, "Mwen kontan wè ou" — I am happy to see you

The impact goes beyond the mechanics of reading. Mark Kauk observed a unique communal bond forming in these classes, particularly for those who started at the very beginning, "Some of the people participating do not know how to read or write, and so other people have had to step up beside them and

to help them through the course... These people have felt no shame. They have been supported by the people that they’re taking the class with. It has been a beautiful thing."

Unlocking a Brighter Future

By February 2026, new Level 1 and Level 2 literacy classes will launch across three campuses, continuing a cycle of empowerment that has already seen dozens of graduates. These skills unlock a voice in local community leadership, enable participation in complex commerce, and deepen spiritual engagement. As one class T-shirt proudly proclaimed, these parents are, "Learning to adore God through reading and writing Kreyòl!"

Hope OVERWHELMS

Partnership Fuels Haiti Relief & Restoration

In our last update, we shared the launch of "Hope for Haiti," a monumental partnership with Lutheran Church of Hope, Meals from the Heartland, and Convoy of Hope, aimed at delivering 2.5 million meals to families and refugees in Haiti. At the time, we set a target of $550,000 to meet the immediate needs of 250,000 people facing extreme instability. Today, we are humbled and overwhelmed to report that the Lutheran Church of Hope community has not just met that goal—they blew past it, proving the unshakable faithfulness of God to provide for those in need. The people of HOPE gave a staggering $882,038.33!

More Than a Number

This incredible outpouring of generosity by the people of HOPE ensures that we can provide even more meals to those in dire need. In a country where the number of internally displaced people has reached a record 1.3 million, these resources are a literal lifeline.

As violence increases in the southern regions, refugees are fleeing north toward areas like Pignon with little more than the clothes on their backs. Many Hands has already identified thousands of refugees navigating these impossible situations in our direct service zones. These are families

"Hope Overwhelms" continues on pg. 07

HOPE OVERWHELMS

who have moved from general hunger to the brink of starvation. In this miraculous provision, we see God's hand at work, making us, as Founder and CEO, Tim Brand noted, the "answer to the prayers of people who right now are crying out."

A Unified Body of Christ

The success of this project is a powerful demonstration of the "Body of Christ in action". Through our collaboration with Lutheran Church of Hope, Meals from the Heartland, and Convoy of Hope, we are adding to our "Generosity Engine" that functions with elite reliability.

Even before the food began to move, we saw the unmistakable hand of God at work, overcoming long-standing logistical hurdles. Our Head of Security, Kalo, was able to secure four new motorcycles and three-wheel motos—essential vehicles for our ground operations—through an unexpected connection in Saint Michele after a year of unsuccessful attempts.

While Meals from the Heartland facilitates the massive packaging effort and Convoy of Hope manages the complex logistics of transport into Haiti, the project is being led on the ground by our lead agronomist, Claudin, ensuring every meal is distributed with the relational commitment that defines Many Hands. Claudin has expressed that leading this effort has been a deep blessing to him, increasing his own desire to serve others—a reminder that in ministry, we are often the ones who receive the greatest gift.

Relief Meets Restoration

The additional funding allows us to expand our strategic dual-impact strategy. While the 12 shipping containers of food provide immediate, urgent relief, we are also heavily invested in economic empowerment, as shown below in the blue section. This embodies our "Build Community" pillar, where we work with local leaders to create pyramids of stability in forgotten places.

The Path Forward

In Haiti, the phrase "Akonpaniyatè" (to accompany) is our guiding light. It means we do not just drop aid and leave; we walk alongside these families for the long haul. This significant achievement of raising $882,038.33 provides the essential resources required to ensure our sustained presence throughout 2026. Having successfully completed the first distribution, we are already learning and planning individual home visits for the next rounds in the coming months, which will allow us to gather more up-close and personal stories of the lifetransforming impact being made. We are praying earnestly that the schedule for receiving the food containers remains on track to sustain this vital work.

We are staying because love wins in the darkest hours. This project is a promise kept to the people of Haiti, showing them they are not forgotten. Thank you, Lutheran Church of Hope, for having the "foolishness" to believe you can make a difference— because, as these results show, you clearly have.

The success of the first distribution is already evident:

125,483 meals to 580 families, 3,269 people in 19 communities have already received aid.

Distributions were planned at central locations, such as a church or house, with our staff intentionally leading with prayer and encouraging recipients to live well with their neighbors

Local community leaders were instrumental in selecting the most vulnerable families, ensuring the right resources reached the most dire situations

“

We are staying because love wins in the darkest hours. This project is a promise kept to the people of Haiti, showing them they are not forgotten.

Our intentional, dual-impact investment includes:

Earmarking $180,000 to purchase goods directly from local Haitian farmers and distributors, including produce from our Alpha Gardens.

Procuring staple goods (dried black beans, cooking oil, and soap) and fresh produce (cabbage, papaya, and leeks).

9,797 lbs of local produce purchased already.

By injecting capital into the local agricultural economy, we are helping families build a long-term future & strengthening the local market against the volatility of the national crisis.

WFROM SUPERINTENDENT TO STRATEGIST

Greg Ebeling Joins to Maximize the ROI of Compassion

e are thrilled to officially announce that Greg Ebeling will be joining Many Hands as our new Chief Operating Officer (COO) this July. As Greg Ebeling prepares to transition from his 13-year tenure as Superintendent of Pella Community Schools to his new role at Many Hands, he brings a perspective forged by more than 27 years of school administrative experience. For nearly three decades, Ebeling has viewed education as the "great equalizer," a foundational tool that allows individuals to reach their full potential regardless of their initial circumstances. In his upcoming leadership role, he is reframing the conversation around global missions by applying a rigorous, data-driven lens to the concept of the "ROI of Compassion."

The "Buying Power" of a Dollar

One of Ebeling’s most compelling insights as a leader is the concept of "Buying Power " for the Kingdom of God. Having managed multimillion dollar budgets in the United States, he notes a "mind-blowing" contrast between the supplemental nature of resources in Iowa and the transformational nature of those same resources in Haiti.

In an affluent community like Pella, a gift of a few thousand dollars toward a large-scale building project is often supplemental and does not significantly alter the project’s trajectory. However, Ebeling observes that the same $1,000 in Haiti has exponentially higher "buying power," capable of funding two entire concrete floors for families living with dirt floors or feed a family for two and a half years. For a donor looking to maximize the impact of their discretionary income, Ebeling argues that investing in Haiti offers a much larger return on life transformation because it meets core survival needs rather than supplemental wants.

Education as a Strategic Investment

From his vantage point, a quality learning environment is not a luxury; it is a neurological and social necessity. Ebeling emphasizes that kids learn better in a nice facility, noting that a bright, colorful, and well-cared-for environment is essential for brain stimulation. He contrasts this with the "black box" of many rural Haitian schools that lack light, books, or proper structures.

As COO, Ebeling will champion the Many Hands Model, which prioritizes early childhood development through the First 1,000 Days program. Drawing on his background as an educator, he understands that 90% of brain development occurs before age five. He believes that without addressing health and nutrition during this critical window, children face a lifelong handicap that even the best elementary school cannot fully remediate.

The Vision for Long-Term Stability

Ebeling’s thought leadership is characterized by a commitment to "predictability." In the U.S., a parent can predict with nearly 100% certainty that their preschooler will have a classroom available to them every year until they graduate the 12th grade. In Haiti, that predictability is absent, creating a constant state of worry for families. By funding education projects and sponsorships in Haiti, Many Hands is building the infrastructure that allows for generational change.

Trusting the Story

Ultimately, Ebeling views his move to Many Hands not as "retiring," but as repositioning himself to work on the front lines of God’s Kingdom. He challenges supporters to move beyond the desire for "instant results" and to commit to a 30 to 50-year vision of restoration. For Ebeling, this mission is no longer abstract; it is personal, driven by the memory of the children he has held on his lap—children he views with the same love as his own grandchildren.

GIVE JOY WRAPPED

We are overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of support for our annual Give Joy donation catalog, which ran from November through December. Because of your faithful participation, we are thrilled to announce that we raised $62,229 this year to support our life-transforming work in Haiti and Abaco.

These funds serve as the high-octane fuel for our Generosity Engine, allowing Many Hands to move beyond short-term aid to build lasting solutions in education, food security, and safe housing. At Many Hands, we believe that true transformation is a "total renovation of the soul" that happens when we work together to bear one another’s burdens.

Your gifts provide the "first strong stick" that helps families build their own futures.

This metaphor comes from a favorite Haitian proverb shared by Judith Onezine, an artisan and mother in our program: “Pezape zwazo fe nich”—“Little by little the bird makes its nest.” For Judith, the "first stick" was a steady job and a breeding goat provided through our donors. She recently shared, "I received the benefit of a goat, and it's this goat that helped me with tuition for my kid's school. I am so very happy because Many Hands has done so much".

In both Haiti and Abaco, these contributions directly fund our Pyramid of Stability, addressing the six building blocks of a thriving community: Education, Safe Structures, Agriculture, Health Assistance, Life Development, and Economic Opportunity. Whether your gift provided a goat to help a parent pay for school tuition or funded a concrete floor to protect a child from parasites, you have made a tangible investment in the dignity and health of a family.

This unstoppable joy is a testament to the power of our community when we choose to act as the hands and feet of Jesus. Your partnership ensures that we can remain on the ground for the long haul, walking alongside local leaders to create a more resilient future.

To everyone who participated in Giving Joy to those in need this holiday season: Thank you for your generosity and for choosing to be Love in Action in a broken world

TWO ANCHORS RESTORED Rebuilding Faith in Abaco

Six years after Hurricane Dorian devastated the Abaco Islands with the force of a "different kind of animal," the landscape is finally being redefined not by its wreckage, but by its restoration. While immediate relief efforts concluded years ago, the long-term work of rebuilding the community's structural and spiritual anchors continues through the mission of Many Hands. In December 2025, this commitment reached major milestones with the completion of two vital community "pillars": the restoration of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church and the rebuild of the Kirk of the Pines Youth Center.

Restoring a Spiritual Landmark

The restoration of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church was overseen by Many Hands through a strategic partnership with the T.K. Foundation, which provided the necessary grant funding. This $66,000 project was extensive, addressing critical structural failures that had lingered since the 2019 storm. Many Hands managed a team of local labor forces to complete a total roof restoration with new shingles, alongside a full overhaul of the facility's electrical and plumbing systems.

Rev. Paulette Cartwright, with the Anglican Church in Abaco, shared her gratitude: “The Parish of St. John the Baptist, Marsh Harbour, Abaco greatly appreciates the work done on our church hall by Many Hands. The hall is an essential establishment to the community... and has been sorely missed. We could not have achieved it on our own within that time frame. On behalf of the Parish and the wider community of Abaco, I thank you for your assistance in the restoration of the hall. May God continue to bless the work of your hands.”

This project exemplifies the Many Hands value of integrity and reliability, signaling that the organization is on the island for the long haul to help neighbors move past the feeling of being "forgotten.” By restoring a landmark that serves as a community hub, Many Hands is replacing the "shadow of Dorian" with a physical sign of revitalization.

Investing in the Next Generation

Alongside the church restoration, the T.K. Foundation funded the $55,000 rebuild of the Kirk of the Pines Youth Center. This project is a crucial investment in Abaco’s youth, particularly those who have

experienced neglect or the instability of broken homes following the hurricane. In addition to financial support, Many Hands Impact teams have been on the ground volunteering to help bring the facility to completion.

The youth center is home to G2, a youth group led by partners Pastor Barrett and Carrie Hendrickson, which ministers to nearly 100 children each week. Reflecting on the collaborative effort, Pastor Barrett shared: "I love seeing what Many Hands is doing here…it's the partnership that we have with each other that we can share our resources and work together, all for the glory of Christ on the island.”

Building Blocks of the Stability Pyramid

In the Many Hands Pyramid of Stability, the "Safe Structures" block extends beyond individual homes to the institutions that preserve a community's social fabric. The completion of these two projects provides steadfast anchors amidst the storm, offering places for residents to gather, worship, and find hope as they continue their own rebuilding journeys. These structures stand as powerful symbols of a community that is not just recovering, but rising.

BUILDING THE Pyramid

The Pyramid of Stability is our holistic development strategy that builds a solid foundation for families through life’s essentials, such as education and safe housing. By partnering with local leaders to address these root causes, we empower forgotten communities to move from a state of survival to long-term, self-sufficient flourishing.

OUR FOCUS AREAS

GROUPS IMPACTED

HEARING EVERY VOICE

The Creole Connection at CAPS

The educational landscape in Abaco faced a "one-two punch" from Dorian and the pandemic, leaving many children displaced and years behind in their development. For the large Haitian Creole-speaking population in Abaco, these hurdles are even higher due to language barriers within the school system. To address this gap, Many Hands launched a new trial program at Central Abaco Primary School (CAPS) in January 2026, ensuring that every student has the support needed to reach their full potential

Bridging the Language Gap

The trial program introduces a recent high school graduate to provide dedicated assistance to teacher Celekah Mills during morning sessions. This assistant focuses specifically on supporting Haitian Creolespeaking students, acting as a linguistic bridge to foundational concepts in literacy and numeracy. This initiative is a vital extension of the ARK (Academic Recovery for Kids) program, which already provides intense reading and math instruction for students grades 1-3 who are performing under grade level.

The results of this focused, relational approach are profound. Recent testing reports from the ARK program show that students who initially recognized zero letters or sounds have progressed to recognizing as many as 25 letters and sounds. By meeting students where they are, Many Hands is replacing a sense of hopelessness with the confidence required to actively participate in the classroom.

A Relentless Sense of Hope

For Celekah Mills, these successes are the heartbeat of her work: "Each lesson is a reminder that progress doesn't always come in leaps, it comes in small steps as well". This program embodies the mission to be inclusive and relational, acknowledging that while "the healing here is far from finished," every child matters. By investing in the language needs of the community, Many Hands is "Building Tomorrow's Leaders" and ensuring that the future of Abaco includes every voice.

IMPACT TEAMS