Local therapist, daughter, to aid Guatemalans
Wayne Hennen and his daughter Isabelle will be embarking on a mission trip to San Lucas, Guatemala in Central America from Aug. 12-19 and are looking for shoes and socks to bring along with them for needy children.
Donations are currently being accepted for new or slightly-worn shoes from infant to size 4, as well as youth socks in any size. Donations can be dropped off at Big Stone Therapy in Minneota from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until Aug. 11.
“We appreciate any donations we can get,” said Hennen. “We only want youth sizes for the shoes and socks.” Twice a year, Big Stone Therapies, Inc. sends four or five of its therapists to Guatemala to bring supplies and medical equipment and to assist those in need of physical therapy.
The mission trips have been taking place over the last 20 years. A therapist from Big Stone Therapies facilities in Ortonville, Baxter and Zumbrota will also be making the trip, as will students from the College of St. Mary’s in Bismarck, ND.
Hennen is a physical therapist for the Big Stone Therapies facility located in the Minneota Manor building. This will be his first mission trip. The mission group members deliver items such as wheelchairs, braces, crutches, walkers, canes and other adaptive equipment to San Lucas to assist those with disabilities.
The climate in Guatemala is tropical with basically two seasons; dry or summer that runs from November-June and rainy or winter that runs from July-October.
Because of the city’s high elevation (5,600 feet), it is free of malaria and offers what locals call “eternal spring” with annual temperatures ranging from 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hennen’s 16-year-old daughter, Isabelle, will also be making the trip with the group. She recently gave a presentation to the Minneota Rotary Club about the upcoming mission trip and what they hoped to accomplish.
The Rotary Club then voted to donate $500 towards the mission group, half of which was intended to help with her plane fare. “I believe this will be a life-changing experience as I learn how people live with very little and are still happy,” Isabelle told the Rotarians.
“The people who receive these items are so appreciative and thankful for everything you do and give them.” Although Isabelle is not a physical therapist, her father said there will be many other things she can assist with during the trip.
“There will be plenty for her to do,” he said. “We visit schools and other places and they all need help with things.”
For now, the Hennens are focusing on collecting infant and youth footwear for the needy children.
For more information, call Wayne Hennen at 605-391-3145.