Food for Families in Kilometer 6 During COVID-19 . . . in Loving Memory of Bill Wadsworth, Sr.

The COVID-19 crisis has been an extremely difficult challenge all over the world, and in the Dominican Republic, this certainly is the case. Access to food has been a desperate struggle for many families in the bateyes and in the Kilometer 6 barrio (where the Joe Hartman School and Beraca Church is located).

Thanks to the generosity of the Wadsworth family of Wallingford, CT, hundreds of families in Kilometer 6 were blessed with food in early January. This donation was made in memory of Bill Wadsworth, Sr., a long-time friend and supporter of the Phanord family and the Joe Hartman School, who passed away at the age of 81 on December 6, 2020. In early January, the food packages were distributed throughout Kilometer 6 by the Phanord family, members of the Beraca Church, and visiting volunteers from the Wallingford-based Dominican Republic Mission Team.

“We knew when Bill passed that we wanted to do something right away to honor him,” said Sandra Wadsworth, Bill’s wife of 61 years. “Bill was always involved in helping others, locally and in the DR. Our family has a long-term friendship with the Phanords, and we immediately thought of helping families who may be struggling with hunger during the COVID-19 crisis.”

The Wadsworth Family Foundation has been a generous supporter of many projects in La Romana, DR, over the years through the DR Mission Team, including the Joe Hartman School, a house in Batey 50, water filtration, food and nutrition programs, and more. In 2013, the Wadsworth’s were honored with the DR Mission Team’s “Sammy Award” for their dedication and generosity toward the mission work in the DR.