by Elizabeth O’Connell, Director of Community Development
In the year 2000, shortly after The Haitian Project was introduced to Rockford community, Laurie Kunnert saw an announcement in the Holy Family bulletin about a mission trip to Haiti. After attending an informational meeting and being much impressed with what she had heard, Laurie made the decision to go on a weeklong trip to Louverture Cleary School to provide First Aid training to the Philo (Senior) students. Since her trip six years ago, Laurie has been a strong and steady volunteer for The Haitian Project, offering her time with the true attitude of a servant. Like Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, many of her acts of service may have gone unobserved, but Laurie’s helping hands and clever sense of humor have been an essential part of the Project’s growing community since she joined The Haitian Project family.
THP volunteer Laurie Kunnert and Marianna Moynihan
After returning from her trip to Haiti, Laurie dove into what would be years of volunteering when she asked Patrick Moynihan (THP President) if he needed help with office work. At that time, Patrick and his wife Christina had their hands full balancing their life with THP and caring for their four young children, and unexpectedly Patrick asked Laurie if she could offer her time babysitting instead. Open to doing to whatever was needed, Laurie agreed and has continued to be not only helpful when the family is in a pinch, but also a dependable office volunteer and event helper. Mary Jo LeGrand, former Director of Development, is grateful for Laurie’s generous offering of time, stating fondly, “She is always in the ‘mode’ to lend a helping hand wherever it is needed – whatever the job may be. The greatest thing about Laurie is that she generously gives of her talents without turning up her nose at jobs that might seem, at first glance, a little dull, but in the long run keep the Project going.”
