ATLANTA – Representative Dave Belton (R-Buckhead), along with employees of the Delta Airlines’ Caring Crew Organization, recently visited La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family) orphanage in Zapallal, Peru to host their fifth annual Christmas party.
“I truly feel like I gain more through each trip than I could ever give to these children, and our annual trips make me appreciate the Christmas season even more,” said Rep. Belton. “I’ve been to many struggling countries and seen a lot of suffering; however, despite having very little, these children exemplify selfless gratitude and the example Christ set. That is ultimately what Christmas is all about.”
La Sagrada Familia was founded by a local Peruvian radio personality, Miguel Rodriguez, after the death of his infant son. The orphanage provides a safe-haven for orphans and children escaping abusive homes. No child is turned away, resulting in more than 1000 children, with ages range from infants to 18 years old. The orphanage’s motto is, “we work hard, study hard, and play every day.” Miguel’s goal is to provide these children with emotional support and an education to give them a hopeful future.
In addition to its annual Christmas party, the Caring Crew also provides furniture, computers, blankets, clothes, toys and vitamins throughout the year. The group has also taken on many physical projects, including a water filtration system and library.
“Education is at the core of Caring Crew’s philosophy, and Sagrada Familia is seeing remarkable success in education,” added Rep. Belton. “This year, the graduating class attempted to pass Peru’s very difficult university acceptance test, and amazingly, all 30 of them passed. I was especially moved by one stellar graduate: 18 year old Isabel Morillo. She was born in the Amazon jungle, and her mother crossed the Andes Mountains to get her to Lima where she left eleven-year-old Isabel and her three younger siblings at the orphanage. A hard-working, kind soul, Isabel won a few scholarships and is currently studying industrial engineering at the Cesar Vallejo University in Trujillo, Peru. She has a demanding job and lives in a shed without electricity, a computer, the internet, or running water…yet her poise is unflappable. Rather than blaming her situation, she told me she thanks God for giving her the opportunity to build her own destiny.”
Delta Air Lines’ Caring Crew Organization was started by a flight attendant named Carla Soto Mitchell, and has grown to more than 100 flight attendants, gate and ticket agents, baggage handlers and one pilot. This year, the Caring Crew Organization was added to Delta’s “Force for Global Good” where Representative Belton serves on the Board of Directors.
For more information about Delta’s Force for Global Good, please click here.
Representative Dave Belton represents the citizens of District 112, which includes all of Morgan County and the eastern side of Newton County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2014, and currently serves as a member of the Economic Development & Tourism, Education, and Interstate Cooperation committees.
# # #