Isie Hale raising funds for mission trip to Haiti

Isie Hale has the chance to make a difference next month in several villages in Haiti. But first, the 16-year-old must come up with $1,325 by next week.

Seven students and two chaperones at Foundation Academy are taking the mission trip Jan. 9 through 13. Isie wanted to go but ended up on the wait list. When one student backed out of the trip last week, Isie was in — provided she can come up with the sponsorships and funds by Dec. 18.

“We will be visiting schools that have students of all grade levels,” Isie said. “While we are there we will be distributing shoeboxes and sneakers.”

Christians in Service provided the New Missions Christmas Shoeboxes to students and families at Foundation, and they were returned filled with school supplies, hygiene items, toys and other small gifts.

The more than 400 shoeboxes will be handed out to children in schools and villages in Leogane, a coastal community in Ouest, Haiti. New Missions supports 32 schools with more than 10,000 children.

“My heart and passion are mission trips and helping others,” Isie wrote on a Facebook post.

This will be Isie's second trip to a third-world country. Her first mission trip was this summer to Puerto Lempira, Honduras, where her group partnered with Reach Out Honduras and visited Mama Tara's orphanage to build a well cover and love on the children. She raised the money herself to make that trip.

“It’s humbling to help others in need,” the Winter Garden resident said. “I have a passion for helping others. I’ve grown up always reaching out and helping those in need. From the Ronald McDonald House to local women’s shelters and food banks.”

This is Isie's first year as a full-time student at Foundation Academy. She is a cheerleader and a Girl Scout and participates in student government, Christians in Service, Student Leader Institute and the American Sign Language Club.

“Isie is about helping others,” her mother, Christina Hale, said. “Over the years, she has opted out of having a real birthday party, and instead (had) a bunch of friends meet at the Ronald McDonald House and bake cookies. She would ask that people bring something to donate to the house for the families in need. She has done this on multiple occasions. She is truly a 'real person' (who) lives for helping others. If it was up to her, she would go on a mission trip at least two to four times a year.”