December 1, 2010

The Executive Director of the North Country Mission of Hope, Sr. Debbie Blow, was notified recently that she is a winner of the E-Chievement Award, given by the nationally syndicated radio show eTown. First up was a radio interview broadcast nationally on November 30, which Blow did as winner of the E-Chievement Award.

The nonprofit corporation aims to “educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience … to create a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable world,” its website says. Since its inception in 1991, eTown has given out hundreds of E-Chievement Awards, and the accompanying radio interviews with the winners seeing such positive results as increased funding, resources and volunteer help, the site said.

“The first thing I always think is, ‘This is going to be great for the mission,’” Blow said of such opportunities. “Then it’s, oh my gosh, I’m going to be out there.”

Numerous recognitions have come Blow’s way due to her work with Mission of Hope, and she appreciates them.

“But it’s always important to emphasize that I accept the honor in the name of all the volunteers.” says Blow.

To listen to the podcast, go to www.etown.org, click on ipod, then click on the Shawn Mullin/Cloud cult which is on top. About 30 minutes into the program is the interview.

MANY TAKE PART
And so she ticked off others on the long list, among them, she noted, are Judy and Marcel Charland, who are in the midst of training a team that will tackle Nicaraguan ecological issues in January.

Oscar Flores just made a mission presentation to Paul Smith’s College, where students are raising money for the mission and collecting school supplies.

The grant Murray wrote would pay for a physician to visit Parajito Azul, an orphange for disabled children, a few times a week and add a part-time physical therapist to the staff.

There’s no doctor at all now, he said, “and only one (physical therapist) for 97 residents.”

Blow deserves the recognition that comes her way, he added.

“She epitomizes the whole culture of the mission, which is to serve others.”

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
Blow’s television appearance, set for Dec. 12 on Catholic network Telecare, came about through the mission’s connection with worldwide Catholic Medical Mission Board.

Yearly, that organization provides millions of dollars in pharmaceuticals to Mission of Hope, helps fund shipping and recently provided volunteer psychologist Juliano, who is spending a year in Nicaragua developing programs.

The Mission Board invited 12 organizations to participate on Telemark programming, among them Mission of Hope.

When Senior Program Services Coordinator Kathy Tebbets asked Blow to do the interview, the nun didn’t just say yes. Instead, joking around (as she’s wont to do), she asked, “What are you going to do for me—”

Tebbett played along, asking what Blow wanted.

“I said I want CMMB to pay (to ship) a container to Nicaragua,” Blow recalled saying. “And she said, ‘OK.’” “I never dreamed …” she added, laughing.

But when the mission is ready for it in the next month or so, the container will be sent to Plattsburgh for filling with hospital beds and other much-needed equipment.

It would cost Mission of Hope several thousand dollars to ship the container itself, Blow said.

Mission of Hope is blessed, she said, to hold a spot under the Mission Board umbrella.

Tebbett says that honor goes both ways.

“All of your efforts in the name of those most in need speak to the heart of CMMB’s mission,” she wrote in an e-mail to Blow. “Many thanks for presenting us with so many opportunities for mutual service to the poor.”