Ingredients

100+ college students in an end‑of‑year exodus who handed over dorm fridges, university shirts, old suits, shoes, and dress shirts
8 boxes of pizza and 2 boxes of donuts that lured residents to our donation table
1 small but sturdy black plastic party table that served as mission control
400+ pounds of supplies that smelled like fresh soap and laundry detergent
2 rusty scissors, 3 tape guns, 2 sets of biceps, and 1 Toyota RAV4 with sneaky‑large trunk space

Methods

Gathered the love – Flyers around campus and a burst of Instagram stories sparked the first donations. Move‑out week finished the job as shirts, sheets, and shoes piled up in our boxes.
Lifted, folded, taped – All goods traveled to University Village dorm HQ, where 8 unruly boxes took shape. A friend’s family van, loaned with a smile, hauled them 22 miles to my garage.
Consolidated and reorganized – At 2 A.M, the boxes hit the driveway; by 5 A.M., the van sat back in its parking spot with a full tank. Over the next week, every item was sorted, repacked, taped, and labeled for its island journey.
WhatsApped & expanded – A WhatsApp introduction linked me with Edamepsel, our on‑the‑ground guide in the DR; his first voice note bristled with ideas. Meanwhile, a childhood friend’s family rallied and filled Box #7.
Shipped hope – A “climate‑controlled” container carried 7 heavy promises to Santo Domingo’s harbor. Two prompt weeks later, the boxes reached the second floor of Génesis Church.
Touched down & shared – The following Friday, we caught a quick flight to Santo Domingo; by Saturday morning, the community carefully chose the pieces that resonated with them, and a cascade of “¡Gracias!” echoed through the room.

Aftertaste

Turning Good Deeds Into Growing Momentum

Why We Did It

The spark behind Code & Care was lit on the island of Hispaniola, where Haiti and the Dominican Republic share one heartbeat. Hans, born and raised in Port-au-Prince before moving to Miami, remembers nights when power outages turned homework into a candlelit reading. Skyla, a Brooklyn native who spent every summer chasing mangoes and merengue in the Dominican Republic, saw how a single notebook could transform a cousin’s school year. From opposite ends of the same island, they carried those memories north, determined to level the playing field. Every box we pack and every mile we ship is a thank you to the communities that raised us and a promise to the next generation.

Why It Matters

We have felt, firsthand, how a fresh pair of shoes or clean bedding can turn a tough week around. Sending those same comforts back home reminds us that small essentials can spark big hope.

Impact Snapshot

What’s Next

Looking for Partners/Volunteers – Schools, nonprofits, companies with surplus clothing or resources/Project Managers, organizers, storytellers; every skill moves us forward.
Voices From the Ground Series – Short stories from families who received items and the people who made it possible.

Dominican Republic Care Drive: Recipe for Hope