Callie Krispin said she always felt blessed to be a part of two “incredible” communities — Happy Valley and Hope Town — a small settlement in the Bahamas.
Her family and some of her closest friends have visited Hope Town every year for the past 22 years and she said they have developed relationships with many of the people there. After Hurricane Dorian, the most intense tropical cyclone to ever strike the Bahamas, made landfall on Sept. 1, she saw the destruction of the storm and began thinking of ways to help the people she feels so close to.
“At this point, we have all seen the destruction and heard about the tragic loss in the Bahamas. The impact that Hurricane Dorian had on Abaco (island group in the northern part of the Bahamas) and its surrounding cays is truly devastating,” said Krispin. “Some have described it as apocalyptic. Others have described it as hell. Whichever way it is described, it is not hard to understand the gravity of the situation. It is a humanitarian crisis.”
Krispin’s thoughts led her to the creation of a website that allows the community to help through donations, as well as recruit involvement and participants for a 5K race to raise funds for the many affected people of Hope Town.
The race was in the spirit of, and modeled after, a 5K run organized in 2017 by a group of 20 State College locals on Elbow Cay, during their family’s vacation. They called it “The Hope Town Hustle” and the money raised was donated to the local primary school.
On Oct. 13, 50 area runners took part in the new Hope Town Hustle 5k: Hurricane Dorian Relief in State College effort, with a course that weaved through the Penn State golf courses.
After 22 years of building close relationships with the people of Hope Town, Krispin said her family and closest friends feel a strong bond to those residents and are “fortunate” to have such a relationship with them.
“At the center of those relationships is love, mutual respect and trust. We have been able to count on their help on many occasions,” said Krispin. “In 2013, when my brother had a medical emergency on the island, the community rallied around us with incredible support. Not only did they provide transport so desperately needed for my brother, the community literally took care of me during this trauma. This was only possible because over the years we developed trust and a deep caring for one another. Now it’s time for me to support this beloved community by doing what I can. If I could speak to my friends of Hope Town today, I would tell them, ‘We see your struggle and you can count on us to help. You are not alone.’”
Through the race and other donations, $11,729.90 has been raised thus far. Those interested in donating can visit www.happyvalleyforhopetown.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the race went to benefit the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts on Elbow Cay. She said she may conduct a raffle later this year to raise more money for the cause.
“I am so privileged to live in a community that values generosity, service and exemplifies a spirit of caring,” said Krispin. “I am so grateful for everybody who gave of their time and resources to make Happy Valley for Hope Town such a success thus far. I look forward to future opportunities to give back to both Happy Valley and Hope Town. From the bottom of my heart, thank you again to all.”
